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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207467
Title: Antioxidant effects of a cinnamon extract on overweight subjects with impaired fasting glucose

Author
item ROUSSEL, ANNE - Joseph Fourier University
item BARNARABA, RACHIDA - Joseph Fourier University
item ZIEGENFUSS, TIM - OHIO RESEARCH GROUP, OH
item Anderson, Richard

Submitted to: Journal of American College of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/8/2008
Publication Date: 2/28/2010
Citation: Roussel, A.M., Barnaraba, R., Ziegenfuss, T., Anderson, R.A. 2010. Antioxidant effects of a cinnamon extract on overweight subjects with impaired fasting glucose. Journal of American College of Nutrition.

Interpretive Summary: We have shown previously that compounds found in cinnamon not only improve blood glucose but also function as antioxidants. Oxidative stress, which is increased in obesity, plays an important role in the development of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in obese people. The objective of this study was to determine whether oral administration of a cinnamon extract would improve oxidative stress in overweight people with elevated blood sugar; and therefore be a possible nutritional approach in reducing the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and oxidative stress-related complications in these subjects. In the present study, cinnamon extracts, at 500 mg/d for twelve weeks, given to obese people with elevated blood glucose decreased oxidative stress and improved impaired fasting levels of blood sugar. These data demonstrate that compounds found in cinnamon decrease risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. These results are important to scientific and medical personnel that study the physiological effects of obesity, and may be useful to those people who are overweight and have elevated levels of blood glucose.

Technical Abstract: Objective: To determine the effects of an aqueous extract of cinnamon on antioxidant status of obese subjects. Methods: Twenty-two obese subjects with elevated blood glucose were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Subjects were given either a placebo or 250 mg of an aqueous extract of cinnamon (Cinnulin PF) two times per day for 12 weeks. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were assessed using high performance liquid chromatography and plasma antioxidant status was evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Erythrocyte Cu-Zn SOD activity was measured after hemoglobin precipitation by monitoring the auto-oxidation of pyrogallol and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was evaluated by established methods. Results: FRAP and plasma SH groups increased, while plasma MDA levels decreased in subjects receiving the cinnamon extract. Effects were larger after 12 than 6 weeks. There was also a positive correlation (r = 0.74; p = 0.014) between MDA and plasma glucose. Conclusion: This study supports the hypothesis that the inclusion of cinnamon extracts in the diet of overweight people could reduce oxidative stress and impaired fasting glucose which are risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.