Cinnamon and health: what the evidence shows
What it found
In lab and animal studies, cinnamon showed anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, heart, cholesterol-lowering and immune effects, and helped lower blood sugar.
There are very few well-controlled studies in people.
What they found
Studies in people
Few studies in people
There are only very few well-controlled clinical studies in people, which limits what can be concluded about cinnamon's health benefits for free-living humans.
Animal and lab studies
Effects in lab tests
In lab tests, cinnamon may act like insulin, boost insulin activity, or stimulate how cells use glucose.
Blood sugar in animals
Animal studies showed strong blood sugar-lowering properties.
Range of effects
Lab and animal evidence suggests cinnamon has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, cardiovascular, cholesterol-lowering, and immune effects.
Studies in people and animals
Type 2 diabetes
Using cinnamon alongside treatment for type 2 diabetes is the most promising area, but more research is needed before definitive recommendations can be made.
What the authors conclude
“The use of cinnamon as an adjunct to the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most promising area, but further research is needed before definitive recommendations can be made.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that the use of cinnamon as an adjunct to the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most promising area.
- They state that further research is needed before definitive recommendations can be made.
How it was done
Cinnamon has been used as a spice and as traditional herbal medicine for centuries.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- Most of the evidence comes from lab and animal studies, which cannot show what happens in people.
- There are very few well-controlled clinical studies in people, so the health benefits for free-living humans are not settled.
The paper
- Title
- Cinnamon and health
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Gruenwald J, Freder J, Armbruester N (2010). Cinnamon and health. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. doi:10.1080/10408390902773052PubMed 20924865DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error