More support for cinnamon extract benefits for diabetics

[Mikev]

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=68338&m=1NIE612-
&c=esaxlclacofhthy

summary:
12/06/2006 - A daily supplement of an aqueous cinnamon
extract improved blood-glucose levels in type-2
diabetics by over ten percent, say German researchers -
supporting previous studies into the benefits of the
spice for diabetic.

The new study, published in the European Journal of Clinical
Investigation (Vol. 36, pp. 340-344), adds to a growing body
of science linking the common spice to improvements in blood
glucose levels in diabetics.

A previous study reported in 2003 (Diabetes Care, Vol. 26,
pp. 3215-3218) that just 1g of the spice per day reduced
blood glucose levels, as well as triglycerides, LDL
cholesterol, and total cholesterol in a small group of people
with type 2 diabetes.

But the researchers, from the University of Hannover, claim
that their study is the first to evaluate an aqueous cinnamon
extract on fasting glucose levels, serum lipid levels and
glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, in Western type-2
diabetics.

In the new study, 79 diabetic volunteers were randomly
assigned to receive either three capsules per day, each
containing 112mg of aqueous cinnamon extract (by
Finzelberg), equal to one gram of cinnamon, or an
identical-looking placebo.

The volunteers were not receiving insulin therapy, but were
controlling their disease by oral antidiabetics or diet.

Previous studies have indicated that improved glycaemic
control could lead to improvements in lipid profiles.

Such an effect was not observed in this study, say the
researchers, because the improvements in glucose
concentrations were not sufficient to induce such a change.

Regards

MikeV

To Quentin Grady, in NZ. Every good wish for your complete and
early recovery.

[outsor]

Here is the medline abstract:

http://tinyurl.com/gb5vz

[Tc]

What is with this one-substance solution mind set?

How about just cutting refined carbs? That will do more to
control blood glucose levels than all of the cinnamon extracts
and pharmacopia available to man. Remove the cause of the
problem and you resolve the problem.

If your tires keep going flat, instead of continually adding
patches and buying new tires, why not just remove the nails
from your driveway?

TC

MikeV wrote:
> http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=68338&m=1NIE6-
> 12&c=esaxlclacofhthy
>
> summary:
> 12/06/2006 - A daily supplement of an aqueous cinnamon
> extract improved blood-glucose levels in type-2
> diabetics by over ten percent, say German researchers
> - supporting previous studies into the benefits of the
> spice for diabetic.
>
> The new study, published in the European Journal of Clinical
> Investigation (Vol. 36, pp. 340-344), adds to a growing body
> of science linking the common spice to improvements in blood
> glucose levels in diabetics.
>
> A previous study reported in 2003 (Diabetes Care, Vol. 26,
> pp. 3215-3218) that just 1g of the spice per day reduced
> blood glucose levels, as well as triglycerides, LDL
> cholesterol, and total cholesterol in a small group of
> people with type 2 diabetes.
>
> But the researchers, from the University of Hannover, claim
> that their study is the first to evaluate an aqueous
> cinnamon extract on fasting glucose levels, serum lipid
> levels and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, in
> Western type-2 diabetics.
>
> In the new study, 79 diabetic volunteers were randomly
> assigned to receive either three capsules per day, each
> containing 112mg of aqueous cinnamon extract (by
> Finzelberg), equal to one gram of cinnamon, or an
> identical-looking placebo.
>
> The volunteers were not receiving insulin therapy, but were
> controlling their disease by oral antidiabetics or diet.
>
> Previous studies have indicated that improved glycaemic
> control could lead to improvements in lipid profiles.
>
> Such an effect was not observed in this study, say the
> researchers, because the improvements in glucose
> concentrations were not sufficient to induce such a change.
>
> Regards
>
> MikeV
>
>
> To Quentin Grady, in NZ. Every good wish for your complete
> and early recovery.

[outsor]

"What is with this one-substance solution mind set?

How about just cutting refined carbs? That will do more to
control blood glucose levels than all of the cinnamon extracts
and pharmacopia available to man. Remove the cause of the
problem and you resolve the problem."

Refined carbs is not the "cause" of diabetes. Insulin
resistance is high in diabetics as a whole and the insulin
helps in that regard by acting as an insulin mimic for those
diabetics who no longer produce enough. Balancing glucose
intake with available insulin is always good diabetes
treatment, and cinnamon helps on one side of that equation.

[Just Ed]

TC wrote:
> What is with this one-substance solution mind set?

Its not a one-substance solution mind set, it is a 'test
whether cinnamon extract has an effect' mind set.

> How about just cutting refined carbs? That will do more to
> control blood glucose levels than all of the cinnamon
> extracts and pharmacopia available to man. Remove the cause
> of the problem and you resolve the problem.

To give this comment you must be having trouble finding data
where refined carbs were cut. Good luck in life.

> If your tires keep going flat, instead of continually adding
> patches and buying new tires, why not just remove the nails
> from your driveway?
>
> TC

per outsor's comment, understanding things that impact insulin
resistance is more akin to addressing the cause than cutting
refined carbs. Your analogy motivates this study, does not
argue against it.

[Ray]

On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 13:42:51 -0700, TC wrote:

> What is with this one-substance solution mind set?
>
> How about just cutting refined carbs? That will do more to
> control blood glucose levels than all of the cinnamon
> extracts and pharmacopia available to man. Remove the cause
> of the problem and you resolve the problem.

I believe that carbs exacerbate the problem - whether they are
refined or not.

>
> If your tires keep going flat, instead of continually adding
> patches and buying new tires, why not just remove the nails
> from your driveway?
>

How about puncture resistant tubes AND remove the nails from
your driveway
- after all, there are probably nails and thorns
elsewhere, as well.

[Mikev]

"just ed" <just_ed53spam@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1150927401.902978.100250@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
> TC wrote:
>> What is with this one-substance solution mind set?
>
> Its not a one-substance solution mind set, it is a 'test
> whether cinnamon extract has an effect' mind set.
>
>
>> How about just cutting refined carbs? That will do more to
>> control blood glucose levels than all of the cinnamon
>> extracts and pharmacopia available to man. Remove the cause
>> of the problem and you resolve the problem.
>
> To give this comment you must be having trouble finding data
> where refined carbs were cut. Good luck in life.
>
>
>> If your tires keep going flat, instead of continually
>> adding patches and buying new tires, why not just remove
>> the nails from your driveway?
>>
>> TC
>
> per outsor's comment, understanding things that impact
> insulin resistance is more akin to addressing the cause than
> cutting refined carbs. Your analogy motivates this study,
> does not argue against it.

Re: Cutting carbs: The downside. I saw a paper recently
asserting that excessively restricting carbohydrates can
cause verbal diarrhea. Has anyone seen recent evidence of
this? ;-) MikeV

[Ted Rosenb]

MikeV wrote:
> http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=68338&m=1NIE6-
> 12&c=esaxlclacofhthy
>
> summary:
> 12/06/2006 - A daily supplement of an aqueous cinnamon
> extract improved blood-glucose levels in type-2
> diabetics by over ten percent, say German researchers
> - supporting previous studies into the benefits of the
> spice for diabetic.
>
> The new study, published in the European Journal of Clinical
> Investigation (Vol. 36, pp. 340-344), adds to a growing body
> of science linking the common spice to improvements in blood
> glucose levels in diabetics.
>
> A previous study reported in 2003 (Diabetes Care, Vol. 26,
> pp. 3215-3218) that just 1g of the spice per day reduced
> blood glucose levels, as well as triglycerides, LDL
> cholesterol, and total cholesterol in a small group of
> people with type 2 diabetes.
>
> But the researchers, from the University of Hannover, claim
> that their study is the first to evaluate an aqueous
> cinnamon extract on fasting glucose levels, serum lipid
> levels and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, in
> Western type-2 diabetics.
>
> In the new study, 79 diabetic volunteers were randomly
> assigned to receive either three capsules per day, each
> containing 112mg of aqueous cinnamon extract (by
> Finzelberg), equal to one gram of cinnamon, or an
> identical-looking placebo.
>
> The volunteers were not receiving insulin therapy, but were
> controlling their disease by oral antidiabetics or diet.
>
> Previous studies have indicated that improved glycaemic
> control could lead to improvements in lipid profiles.
>
> Such an effect was not observed in this study, say the
> researchers, because the improvements in glucose
> concentrations were not sufficient to induce such a change.

This source is a piece of crap.

it has the typical spam tag "The spice has also been linked to
other health benefits, including Alzheimer's and
cardiovascular disease."

SO, it cures EVERYTHING - yea, sure

the "study" is a short term study of 79 individuals including
controls. the "Journal" is not a respected peer reviewed
Journal, but a group which calls itself the "Young Turks"
searching out that which might have some validity, but which
failed to meet standards for publishing

In the past, all of the Cinnamon hype ans super-questionable
studies have come from the Beltsville marking group at the
department of Ag, a group charged with increasing sales of
agricultural products. Funding has come from a group with
patents in the use of cinnamon. NO legitimate long=term,
sizable double-blind studies which meet peer-review standards
for a major journal seem to exist.

[outsor]

We went through this the last time when the diabetes care
journal, a professional peer reviewed journal which is among
the 10 most consulted journal among doctors, published the
results from the pakistan research. Now we have confirmation
from another study confirming results. The usda research
didn't have industry support. The patents were taken out after
positive results were first shown in in cell line and animal
studies, such patents allowed by researchers to have. those
holding the patents didn't finance subsequent research, they
have no products to sell. The principle dept. of ag.
researcher freely told readers publicly that results could be
achieved by using gram or less of the powder in their food and
the spice is not grown in n. america and has no commercial
benefit to any grower here.

"In the past, all of the Cinnamon hype ans super-questionable
studies have come from the Beltsville marking group at the
department of Ag, a group charged with increasing sales of
agricultural products. Funding has come from a group with
patents in the use of cinnamon. NO legitimate long=term,
sizable double-blind studies which meet peer-review standards
for a major journal seem to exist."

[Juhana Har]

outsor@city-net.net wrote:

: We went through this the last time when the diabetes care
: journal, a professional peer reviewed journal which is among
: the 10 most consulted journal among doctors, published the
: results from the pakistan research. Now we have confirmation
: from another study confirming results. The usda research
: didn't have industry support. The patents were taken out
: after positive results were first shown in in cell line and
: animal studies, such patents allowed by researchers to have.
: those holding the patents didn't finance subsequent
: research, they have no products to sell. The principle dept.
: of ag. researcher freely told readers publicly that results
: could be achieved by using gram or less of the powder in
: their food and the spice is not grown in n. america and has
: no commercial benefit to any grower here.
:
: "In the past, all of the Cinnamon hype ans
: super-questionable studies have come from the Beltsville
: marking group at the department of Ag, a group charged
: with increasing sales of agricultural products. Funding
: has come from a group with patents in the use of cinnamon.
: NO legitimate long=term, sizable double-blind studies
: which meet peer-review standards for a major journal seem
: to exist."

Are you aware of this recent negative study?

J Nutr. 2006 Apr;136(4):977-80.

Cinnamon supplementation does not improve glycemic control in
postmenopausal type 2 diabetes patients.

Vanschoonbeek K, Thomassen BJ, Senden JM, Wodzig WK, van Loon
LJ.

Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research
Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

In vitro and in vivo animal studies have reported strong
insulin-like or insulin-potentiating effects after cinnamon
administration. Recently, a human intervention study showed
that cinnamon supplementation (1 g/d) strongly reduced fasting
blood glucose concentration (30%) and improved the blood lipid
profile in patients with type 2 diabetes. The objective of
this study was to investigate the effects of cinnamon
supplementation on insulin sensitivity and/or glucose
tolerance and blood lipid profile in patients with type 2
diabetes. Therefore, a total of 25 postmenopausal patients
with type 2 diabetes (aged 62.9 +/- 1.5 y, BMI 30.4 +/- 0.9
kg/m2) participated in a 6-wk intervention during which they
were supplemented with either cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia, 1.5
g/d) or a placebo. Before and after 2 and 6 wk of
supplementation, arterialized blood samples were obtained and
oral glucose tolerance tests were performed. Blood lipid
profiles and multiple indices of whole-body insulin
sensitivity were determined. There were no time x treatment
interactions for whole-body insulin sensitivity or oral
glucose tolerance. The blood lipid profile of fasting subjects
did not change after cinnamon supplementation. We conclude
that cinnamon supplementation (1.5 g/d) does not improve
whole-body insulin sensitivity or oral glucose tolerance and
does not modulate blood lipid profile in postmenopausal
patients with type 2 diabetes. More research on the proposed
health benefits of cinnamon supplementation is warranted
before health claims should be made. PMID: 16549460

http://tinyurl.com/gf2xg

--
Juhana

[Juhana Har]

outsor@city-net.net wrote:
: "Are you aware of this recent negative study?"
:
: Yes, I read it at the time of publication. In nutrition
: studies opposing results are often the rule in early
: studies. We have two independent studies which say there is
: a benefit and one that doesn't. Unless we ascribe fraud to
: the first two, or the third for that matter, then the next
: question for research is why the different results. One
: possible factor is the third study was among olderpost men.
: women while the other two had a wider range of participants
: in gender and age. I hope all three results prompt further
: study, I have some reservation with the first study myself
: but remain open to whatever concensus arises.

One possible explanation is that there are different cultivars
of cinnamon which might have different effects although
Cinnamomum cassia is mentioned in the first Diabetes Care
study and also in the study published in Journal of Nutrition
in April. According to the study below the Cassia variety is
more efficient.

Phytother Res. 2005 Mar;19(3):203-6.

Antidiabetic effect of Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum
zeylanicum in vivo and in vitro.

Verspohl EJ, Bauer K, Neddermann E.

Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medicinal Chemistry,
Munster University, Hittorfstr. 58-62, 48149 Munster, Germany.

Rats were given Cinnamomum cassia bark or extracts from
Cinnamomum cassia and zeylanicum to evaluate blood glucose
and plasma insulin levels in rats under various conditions.
The cassia extract was superior to the zeylanicum extract.
The cassia extract was slightly more efficacious than the
equivalent amount of Cassia bark. A decrease in blood glucose
levels was observed in a glucose tolerance test (GTT),
whereas it was not obvious in rats that were not challenged
by a glucose load. The elevation in plasma insulin was direct
since a stimulatory in vitro effect of insulin release from
INS-1 cells (an insulin secreting cell line) was observed.
Thus the cassia extract has a direct antidiabetic potency.
PMID: 15934022

http://tinyurl.com/k6bok

Also it would be interesting to hear if there are any user
experiences of diabetics experimented with cinnamon.

--
Juhana

[Juhana Har]

outsor@city-net.net wrote:

: I have meant to write dr. anderson the principle researcher
: in this area at the ag. dept. and ask him about both of
: these topics.

It would be interesting to hear his response.

--
Juhana

[Juhana Har]

outsor@city-net.net wrote:

:: I have meant to write dr. anderson the principle researcher
:: in this area at the ag. dept. and ask him about both of
:: these topics.
:
: It would be interesting to hear his response."
:
: I forgot to mention, in contacting him before he said that
: variety didn't matter and was wanting to ask him about the
: report you posted.

OK.

: The variety used in the tests is the least expensive of the
: two commonly available and the one most people think of
: because it is what is used most in cooking.

Yes, Cassia is more common but the Sri Lankan variety - the
original cinnamon - has a much more delicate taste.

--
Juhana

[Ted Rosenb]

outsor@city-net.net wrote:
> We went through this the last time when the diabetes care
> journal, a professional peer reviewed journal which is among
> the 10 most consulted journal among doctors, published the
> results from the pakistan research. Now we have confirmation
> from another study confirming results. The usda research
> didn't have industry support. The patents were taken out
> after positive results were first shown in in cell line and
> animal studies, such patents allowed by researchers to have.
> those holding the patents didn't finance subsequent
> research, they have no products to sell. The principle dept.
> of ag. researcher freely told readers publicly that results
> could be achieved by using gram or less of the powder in
> their food and the spice is not grown in n. america and has
> no commercial benefit to any grower here.
>
> "In the past, all of the Cinnamon hype ans
> super-questionable studies have come from the Beltsville
> marking group at the department of Ag, a group charged
> with increasing sales of agricultural products. Funding
> has come from a group with patents in the use of cinnamon.
> NO legitimate long=term, sizable double-blind studies
> which meet peer-review standards for a major journal seem
> to exist."

The Pak study is pure crap, almost a s bad as this so-ccalled
"study" of a few individuals, and not in a respected journal
and I have nort seen a reasonable peer reviewed human study

[Ted Rosenb]

outsor@city-net.net wrote:
> "Are you aware of this recent negative study?"
>
> Yes, I read it at the time of publication. In nutrition
> studies opposing results are often the rule in early
> studies. We have two independent studies which say there is
> a benefit and one that doesn't. Unless we ascribe fraud to
> the first two, or the third for that matter, then the next
> question for research is why the different results. One
> possible factor is the third study was among olderpost men.
> women while the other two had a wider range of participants
> in gender and age. I hope all three results prompt further
> study, I have some reservation with the first study myself
> but remain open to whatever concensus arises.

READ the "studies"they are almost ludicrous

[Ted Rosenb]

Juhana Harju wrote:
> outsor@city-net.net wrote:

> : "In the past, all of the Cinnamon hype ans
> : super-questionable studies have come from the Beltsville
> : marking group at the department of Ag, a group charged
> : with increasing sales of agricultural products. Funding
> : has come from a group with patents in the use of cinnamon.
> : NO legitimate long=term, sizable double-blind studies
> : which meet peer-review standards for a major journal seem
> : to exist."
>
> Are you aware of this recent negative study?
>
> J Nutr. 2006 Apr;136(4):977-80.
>
> Cinnamon supplementation does not improve glycemic control
> in postmenopausal type 2 diabetes patients.
>
> Vanschoonbeek K, Thomassen BJ, Senden JM, Wodzig WK, van
> Loon LJ.
>
> Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology
> Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The
> Netherlands.
>
> In vitro and in vivo animal studies have reported strong
> insulin-like or insulin-potentiating effects after cinnamon
> administration. Recently, a

>
In Vitro and animal studies are not reasonable indicators for
humans., They provide a reason to DO human studies

[Juhana Har]

ted rosenberg wrote:
: Juhana Harju wrote:
:: outsor@city-net.net wrote:
:
::: "In the past, all of the Cinnamon hype ans
::: super-questionable studies have come from the Beltsville
::: marking group at the department of Ag, a group charged
::: with increasing sales of agricultural products. Funding
::: has come from a group with patents in the use of cinnamon.
::: NO legitimate long=term, sizable double-blind studies
::: which meet peer-review standards for a major journal seem
::: to exist."
::
:: Are you aware of this recent negative study?
::
:: J Nutr. 2006 Apr;136(4):977-80.
::
:: Cinnamon supplementation does not improve glycemic control
:: in postmenopausal type 2 diabetes patients.
::
:: Vanschoonbeek K, Thomassen BJ, Senden JM, Wodzig WK, van
:: Loon LJ.
::
: In Vitro and animal studies are not reasonable indicators
: for humans. They provide a reason to DO human studies

What is wrong with you? That was an /in vivo/ human study.

--
Juhana

[Mikev]

"Juhana Harju" <shantigiriorama@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4g1b30F1iroriU1@individual.net...
> ted rosenberg wrote:
> : Juhana Harju wrote:
> :: outsor@city-net.net wrote:
> :
> ::: "In the past, all of the Cinnamon hype ans
> ::: super-questionable studies have come from the Beltsville
> ::: marking group at the department of Ag, a group charged
> ::: with increasing sales of agricultural products. Funding
> ::: has come from a group with
> patents
> ::: in the use of cinnamon. NO legitimate long=term, sizable
> ::: double-blind studies which meet peer-review standards
> ::: for a
> major
> ::: journal seem to exist."
> ::
> :: Are you aware of this recent negative study?
> ::
> :: J Nutr. 2006 Apr;136(4):977-80.
> ::
> :: Cinnamon supplementation does not improve glycemic
> :: control in postmenopausal type 2 diabetes patients.
> ::
> :: Vanschoonbeek K, Thomassen BJ, Senden JM, Wodzig WK,
> :: van Loon
> LJ.
> ::
> : In Vitro and animal studies are not reasonable
> : indicators for
> humans.
> : They provide a reason to DO human studies
>
> What is wrong with you? That was an /in vivo/ human study.
>
> --
> Juhana
>

Perhaps Ted would also help me understand the US dept AG's
interest in boosting sales of a largely Indonesian product in
the US? Spreading democracy?

"In 2004, the U.S. imported 14.5 million kilos of whole
cinnamon and cinnamon tree flowers-but only 1.2 million kilos
came from Sri Lanka at an average cost of $4.58 per kilo.
When you compare the price of cassia-12.6 million kilos
imported from Indonesia at $.62 per kilo-you begin to
understand why a bottle labeled "cinnamon" usually contains
its cheaper cousin. Another reason is that, unlike England,
the U.S. has only the most general labeling requirements. The
Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938 specifically allows all
cinnamomum species to be sold as "cinnamon." If you want the
real thing, you must locate a spice merchant who knows the
difference. Look at the international section of your
supermarket, as well; you may find it among the Mexican
spices, labeled canela.

here.

Cassia: A Different Spice

Although cassia smells like cinnamon, it's different. Light
to dark reddish- brown in color, the dried bark rolls inward
from each end, forming hard, scroll-like quills. Cassia
breaks with a snap, whereas true cinnamon tends to shred or
crumble when it is broken. Cassia's fragrance is pungent and
cinnamon-like, but relatively one-dimensional, lacking the
complexity of the other spice. When you chew cassia bark, its
"cinnamony" sweetness quickly turns hot and it has a rough,
astringent edge.

Cassia is thought to have originated in Burma, but today
Indonesia grows over half of the world's supply. The most
flavorful Indonesian cassia (cinnamomum burmanii) is grown
near Mount Korintje on the island of Sumatra. It is very
aromatic, with a straightforward, hot, familiar cinnamon
taste. Nearly 80 percent of the "cinnamon" sold in America is
actually Indonesian cassia.

Cassia is also grown in China and Vietnam. Chinese cinnamon
(cinnamomum cassia"

From
http://www.globalprovince.com/spicelines/feature/cinnamon.htm

[Ted Rosenb]

MikeV wrote:
> "Juhana Harju" <shantigiriorama@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:4g1b30F1iroriU1@individual.net...
>
>>ted rosenberg wrote:
>>: Juhana Harju wrote:
>>:: outsor@city-net.net wrote:
>>:
>>::: "In the past, all of the Cinnamon hype ans
>>::: super-questionable studies have come from the Beltsville
>>::: marking group at the department of Ag, a group charged
>>::: with increasing sales of agricultural products. Funding
>>::: has come from a group with
>>patents
>>::: in the use of cinnamon. NO legitimate long=term, sizable
>>::: double-blind studies which meet peer-review standards
>>::: for a
>>major
>>::: journal seem to exist."
>>::
>>:: Are you aware of this recent negative study?
>>::
>>:: J Nutr. 2006 Apr;136(4):977-80.
>>::
>>:: Cinnamon supplementation does not improve glycemic
>>:: control in postmenopausal type 2 diabetes patients.
>>::
>>:: Vanschoonbeek K, Thomassen BJ, Senden JM, Wodzig WK,
>>:: van Loon
>>LJ.
>>::
>>: In Vitro and animal studies are not reasonable
>>: indicators for
>>humans.
>>: They provide a reason to DO human studies
>>
>>What is wrong with you? That was an /in vivo/ human study.
>>
>>--
>>Juhana
>>
>
>
>
> Perhaps Ted would also help me understand the US dept AG's
> interest in boosting sales of a largely Indonesian product
> in the US? <snip>

beats heck out of me, but THAT is what that group is supp0osed
to do They ALSO are NOT supposed to take out patents on
research done by their group