The study's purpose was to investigate the effects of a proprietary Ceylon cinnamon hydro-alcoholic extract (CCE) on post-meal blood glucose reduction and carbohydrate digestion. The extract, called MealShape, is made by French supplier, Dialpha.
Post-prandial hyperglycemia is a risk factor for the development of various health disorders including obesity, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
In vitro enzymatic assays and in vivo starch tolerance tests in rats were conducted and were followed by a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial in 18 healthy male and female volunteers.
Results
The results demonstrated that CCE inhibited pancreatic alpha-amalyse activity. In the in-vivo study CCE acutely reduced the glycemic response to starch in a dose-dependent manner in rats.
In the human clinical trial 1g of CCE lowered the area under the curve of glycemia between 0-120 min by 14.8% and between 0-60 min by 21.2% compared to the placebo.
This suggested that CCE may provide a natural and safe solution for the reduction of postprandial hyperglycemia and the associated risk of developing metabolic disorders.
These effects occurred without insulin stimulation and there were no reverse effects reported.
“This extract may be of great interest with regards to the many recognised benefits associated with the reduction of postprandial hyperglycemia.
“These benefits namely include reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in people with IGT, helping with the lipid profile management, helping with the control of fat mass, body weight, and oxidative stress, and finally helping reduce the risk for cardiovascular diseases occurring,” said the researchers.
Source:
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal
doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-351
'Acute effect of Ceylon cinnamon extract on postprandial glycemia: alpha-amylase inhibition, starch tolerance test in rats, and randomized crossover clinical trial in healthy volunteers'
Authors: V. Beejmohun, M. Peytavy-Izard, C. Mignon et al.