1.
Effect of Aqueous Cinnamon Extract on the Postprandial Glycemia Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Rachid, AP, Moncada, M, Mesquita, MF, Brito, J, Bernardo, MA, Silva, ML
Nutrients. 2022;14(8)
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Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is characterised by high levels of blood glucose due to relative insulin deficiency caused through pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. The use of traditional plants as complementary therapies has been growing due to their effect on health, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity as well as their effect against diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. The aims of this study were to investigate (1) the effect of aqueous cinnamon extract (6 g cinnamon burmannii/100 mL) on postprandial glycaemia levels in adults with DM2 and (2) the total phenols content and antioxidant evaluation. This study is a single-blind randomised controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 18) or control group (n = 18). The control group was given only a glucose solution for an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the intervention group was given a glucose solution for an OGTT immediately followed by a cinnamon aqueous extract. Results show that the ingestion of aqueous cinnamon extract (6 g) has no significant effect on postprandial glycaemia over time in patients with DM2 compared with the control group. However, the phenol content analysis showed that cinnamon extract possesses a considerable antioxidant activity and inhibition capacity of reactive oxygen species. Authors conclude by recommending the intake of aqueous cinnamon extract as a source of natural antioxidants due to its high content in these compounds and respective antioxidant activity.
Abstract
Cinnamon is a spice used in traditional cuisine that has been investigated due to hypoglycemic properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of aqueous cinnamon extract on postprandial glycemia levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) adults. This clinical trial enrolled 36 adults with DM2, randomly allocated in two groups: the control group (n = 18) took only an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the intervention group (n = 18) took OGTT immediately followed by aqueous cinnamon extract (6 g/100 mL) ingestion. Blood glucose levels were measured on fasting and after 30, 60, 90 and 120 min in both groups. The chemical analysis of the aqueous cinnamon extract included total phenols content determination and antioxidant activity assessment through FRAP and DPPH methods. The data reveal that aqueous cinnamon extract ingestion did not show a significant difference in the incremental area under the curve (p = 0.834), maximum glucose concentration (p = 0.527) and glucose concentration variation (p = 0.873) compared with the control group. Cinnamon extract possess a total phenol content of 1554.9 mg/L gallic acid equivalent and a strong antioxidant capacity, revealed by the DPPH (5125.0 µmol Trolox/L) and FRAP (3658.8 µmol Trolox/L) tests. Aqueous cinnamon extract did not significantly influence postprandial glucose response in diabetic patients during an OGTT.
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The Therapeutic Roles of Cinnamaldehyde against Cardiovascular Diseases.
Lu, L, Xiong, Y, Zhou, J, Wang, G, Mi, B, Liu, G
Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity. 2022;2022:9177108
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still a growing concern around the world. Current treatments for the prevention of CVD are inadequate due to limited efficacy and the occurrence of side effects and so there is a need for new therapies. Cinnamaldehyde (CA), which is an active constituent of cinnamon has been reported to have protective effects against certain diseases and evidence is growing for its use against the initiation and development of CVD. This review study aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of CA. The review reported that CA is a compound that is relatively safe but is not easily absorbed by the body, however it can be encapsulated into capsules that enable it to be more easily absorbed. CA was reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antithrombotic, blood cell dilatory and blood sugar lowering properties. In addition, CA was shown to prevent the death of cells of the heart and modulate the gut microbiota all of which may be cardioprotective. It was concluded that CA can benefit the heart in several ways. This study could be used by healthcare professionals to understand that cinnamon may be of benefit to heart health, however as studies in humans were not reviewed, further research is warranted before recommendations are made.
Abstract
Evidence from epidemiological studies has demonstrated that the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) increase year by year, which pose a great threat on social economy and human health worldwide. Due to limited therapeutic benefits and associated adverse effects of current medications, there is an urgent need to uncover novel agents with favorable safety and efficacy. Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is a bioactive phytochemical isolated from the stem bark of Chinese herbal medicine Cinnamon and has been suggested to possess curative roles against the development of CVDs. This integrated review intends to summarize the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic features of CA and discuss the recent advances in underlying mechanisms and potential targets responsible for anti-CVD properties of CA. The CA-related cardiovascular protective mechanisms could be attributed to the inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress, improvement of lipid and glucose metabolism, regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis, suppression of cardiac fibrosis, and platelet aggregation and promotion of vasodilation and angiogenesis. Furthermore, CA is likely to inhibit CVD progression via affecting other possible processes including autophagy and ER stress regulation, gut microbiota and immune homeostasis, ion metabolism, ncRNA expression, and TRPA1 activation. Collectively, experiments reported previously highlight the therapeutic effects of CA and clinical trials are advocated to offer scientific basis for the compound future applied in clinical practice for CVD prophylaxis and treatment.
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Spices and Atherosclerosis.
Tsui, PF, Lin, CS, Ho, LJ, Lai, JH
Nutrients. 2018;10(11)
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world. Atherosclerosis, characterised by the accumulation of fat and inflammation in blood vessels, is the main feature of CVD. Common spices such as pepper, ginger, garlic, onion, cinnamon and chilli may have effects on the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. In this review, the authors focused on the potential protective effects of spices, in atherosclerosis and CVD. Most studies to date have been carried out either in cell culture or in animals. These have revealed various potential mechanisms by which spices exert their beneficial effects, including anti-oxidant, anti-atherogenic, anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties. There are some human studies evaluating the effects of spices on high blood pressure. Although saffron, turmeric, and chilli pepper had no effect on blood pressure, cinnamon demonstrated significant blood pressure lowering effects in patients with diabetes. Garlic has been shown to have the potential to reduce blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure. These studies provide information on the beneficial roles of spices in reducing cardiovascular risk factors. The types of spices consumed vary across cultures, and currently there are no available population studies showing that consumption of spices is associated with reduction of CVD nor any recommendations for the amounts of spices to be consumed. The authors conclude that the consumption of spices should be encouraged across countries to promote good health.
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world. Atherosclerosis, characterized by lipid accumulation and chronic inflammation in the vessel wall, is the main feature of cardiovascular disease. Although the amounts of fruits and vegetables present in the diets vary by country, diets, worldwide, contain large amounts of spices; this may have positive or negative effects on the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. In this review, we focused on the potential protective effects of specific nutrients from spices, such as pepper, ginger, garlic, onion, cinnamon and chili, in atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms, epidemiological analysis, and clinical studies focusing on a variety of spices are covered in this review. Based on the integrated information, we aimed to raise specific recommendations for people with different dietary styles for the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease through dietary habit adjustments.