Cinnamon

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Blood sugar in diabetes²

  In people with type 2 diabetes, cinnamon lowered fasting blood sugar and HbA1c, but scientists say more studies are needed.

• Concern

  Appetite and fullness³

  In people, a single cinnamon infusion drink left them feeling less full and eating more at the next meal.

Animal and lab studies only

• Open question

  Blood sugar control⁷

  In lab and animal studies, cinnamon helped with blood sugar, but scientists do not yet know whether it helps people.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Health effects in people⁴

  Cinnamon may help with Alzheimer's, diabetes, arthritis and hardening of the arteries, but scientists do not yet know whether it truly does.

• Concern

  Gum and toothpaste irritation⁵

  Cinnamon in gum and toothpaste can cause mouth soreness that is often mistaken for other problems.

• Concern

  Metal levels in spices⁶

  In ground cinnamon sold in Ecuador, lead levels were about twice those in stick cinnamon.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.