Cinnamon: Health Promises, Clinical Realities, and Safety

Medscape evaluates cinnamon's traditional health claims against scientific evidence, finding promising but inconsistent results for metabolic benefits like blood sugar control. While a potent antioxidant, high doses, particularly of Cassia cinnamon, pose liver risks due to coumarin content. Experts caution against self-medication.

• Cinnamon shows potential for metabolic benefits in preclinical studies.
• Clinical evidence for blood sugar control remains mixed and often modest.
• High-dose cinnamon, especially Cassia, carries liver toxicity risks from coumarin.
• Experts advise against using cinnamon as a primary diabetes treatment.
• Ceylon cinnamon is safer due to its significantly lower coumarin levels.
• Recent FDA alerts warn about lead contamination in certain cinnamon brands.

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