Q: Should persons with type 2 diabetes take chromium or cinnamon?Ī: Chromium shows some promise, but more evidence is needed to know whether it has a role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The population studies have also not been consistent and have included healthy subjects, persons with type 2 diabetes, and those with type 1 diabetes. 6,7 Dosing of cinnamon has varied widely, from 1 gram to 6 grams, and preparations of cinnamon have been different (extract vs whole spice). One of these found no effect, and the other showed a decrease in fasting blood glucose levels with the use of cinnamon. Two meta-analyses have been done in the past few years. Some studies have found that fasting blood glucose levels are decreased, and others have found no effect. Q: Does cinnamon supplementation make a difference?Ī: The evidence supporting a role for cinnamon in type 2 diabetes is conflicting, most likely because of small sample sizes. 4,5 Most important, it may have very little or no antidiabetic effects. It may act in a similar way to medications already on the market such as thiazolidinediones (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists) or by decreasing inflammation.
Cinnamon might increase insulin sensitivity and improve glucose uptake into cells. If cinnamon does decrease fasting glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, it likely does so by decreasing insulin resistance. The potential antidiabetic effects of cinnamon have been studied for more than 20 years. Q: How might cinnamon affect patients with type 2 diabetes?Ī: This is not yet known. It is not known whether these different preparations have different, if any, antidiabetic effects. Different preparations of cinnamon are available commercially, including water-soluble extract of cinnamon rather than the whole spice. 4 Although there are many species of Cinnamomum, the most commonly used species in studies has been Cinnamomum cassia. Q: What types of cinnamon supplements are available?Ī: Cinnamon is produced by drying of the inner bark of Cinnamomum trees. When the results of several studies are combined, there has been some suggestion that chromium may lower fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A 1c levels however, larger, better-quality studies are needed. Some studies show promise but have been small and poor in quality. 1,2 Studies of chromium supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes have been performed for the past 40 years, and the results remain conflicting. Trials conducted in patients with prediabetes have not shown any benefit. Deficiency is rare, and the question is whether giving additional chromium to patients with sufficient chromium levels results in any improvement in insulin resistance and control of diabetes. Q: Does chromium supplementation make a difference?Ī: Chromium likely is needed to maintain normal carbohydrate metabolism. 1 It is proposed that chromium decreases insulin resistance, which is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, but the exact mechanism remains unknown. Q: How does chromium affect patients with type 2 diabetes?Ī: The relationship between chromium and diabetes was first noted in the 1950s when diabetes developed in chromium-deficient rats as a result of insulin resistance, which was reversed by chromium supplementation. Chromium picolinate is designed to be better absorbed than the others. 2 There are different forms available, including chromium chloride, chromium nicotinate, and chromium picolinate.
1 Severe chromium deficiency is rare, 1 but chromium has become a commonly sold supplement accounting for $85 million in sales in 2002. Q: What types of chromium supplements are available?Ī: Chromium is an essential trace element that is found in foods such as whole grain, broccoli, nuts, green beans, wine, and beer.
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