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.

• Open question

  Gum and toothpaste irritation³

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

• No harm found

  Blood sugar control in diabetes⁵

  Studies of cinnamon in people with diabetes found no clear effect on blood sugar.

• Benefit

  Body fat and blood sugar⁶

  In overweight soldiers, cinnamon capsules plus Tabata exercise cut body fat and blood sugar more than exercise alone.

• Concern

  Mouth sores⁷

  In some people, cinnamon caused mouth sores that doctors only spotted by looking at tissue samples.

• Benefit

  Blood fats after meals⁸

  In overweight men, cinnamon with capsicum brought some blood fats back to normal after a high-carb meal.

• Open question

  Weight and body fat⁹

  In overweight adults, cinnamon was linked to changes in body weight, water, muscle and BMI.

Animal and lab studies only

• Open question

  Blood sugar control¹⁵

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

• Benefit

  Brain insulin and blood sugar¹⁶

  In animal studies, cinnamon extract improved insulin action in the brain and blood sugar in diabetic mice.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Health effects in people¹⁰

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

• Benefit

  Health and medicinal benefits¹²

  Cinnamon is a spice used for flavor and aroma, and it has high antioxidant properties.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar after poor sleep¹³

  Cassia cinnamon may help the body handle sugar better after a poor night's sleep.

• Open question

  Metal levels in spice¹⁴

  Cinnamon powders sold in Portugal contained metals like aluminium and iron, but levels stayed below the safety limit.

Found in some samples or products

These come from where it was grown, how it was processed or cooked, or what it was made into. They are not about the ingredient itself, so the signal does not count them.

• Metal levels in spices¹¹

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

How it’s made and used

• Appetite and fullness⁴

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

• Germ-killing in juice¹⁷

  Cinnamon killed off Listeria germs in apple juice, though a few survived in one less acidic batch.

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 one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. 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.