Although cinnamon is a spice added to many foods, it has a long history of use in traditional medicine in many cultures.
Today, cinnamon products are sold as dietary supplements to help in a variety of health conditions, including diabetes treatment, promoting weight loss and relieving allergic rhinitis and other inflammatory conditions. But how much excess cinnamon? Can there be negative impacts on excessive consumption of cinnamon products?
To the people should be cautious because cinnamon can affect the effect of medicines according to a study published in Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences. The authors warned against excessive consumption of cinnamon substances, especially in individuals with other health conditions.
To help us understand the results of the study and what are the main conclusions about cinnamon consumption, the CNN He talked to Dr. Leana Wen, a emergency doctor and a associate professor at George Washington University.
CNN: What is cinnamon – where does it come from and what are its potentially beneficial effects to health?
Dr. Leana Wen: Cinnamon is a spice from the dry bark of the Cinnamomum trees. The cinnamon, sometimes called “true” cinnamon, comes from the cinnamomum veum trees. Although some studies have suggested that cinnamon supplementation may be useful in treating diabetes or weight loss, more research is needed to investigate benefits . Similarly, although preliminary research point to a possible role of cinnamon nasal spray in the allergic rhinitis aid, more research is needed to confirm that it may be a treatment.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that “research clearly does not support cinnamon use for any health condition”. Cinnamon is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of any medical condition, for example.
CNN: What is already known about the possible risks of cinnamon consumption?
Wen: Cinnamon-cassia may contain high levels of coumarin, an anticoagulant. The cinnamon can also contain coumarin traits. If someone who already takes anticoagulant medications ingest a large amount of coumarin, this may increase the risk of bleeding. In addition, there are known interactions between coumarin and the liver. Prolonged use of high coumarin cinnamon products may pose risks to the health of people with liver disease. In addition, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that there are “theoretical reasons” to think that there may be interactions between cinnamon and anticancer medications and nicotine.
CNN: What has this new study examined?
Wen: This new study examined the main active ingredient of cinnamon called cinamaldehyde. The researchers first analyzed whether cinamaldehyde is well absorbed when ingested orally, examining gastric and intestinal fluids. They found that it is 100% bioaccessible in both fasting fluids and fed liquids. This means that, regardless of whether someone is fasting or eating, it is expected that the cinamaldehyde is well absorbed. They then found that cinamaldehyde is rapidly metabolized in another compound, cinnamic acid, and that it can activate multiple receptors that affect drug metabolism. Possible interference with medicines metabolism is what led the authors to conclude that excessive consumption can induce herb-teeth interactions. They recommend additional research that investigate these possible interactions. Until these studies are completed, as researchers have indicated in a press release, they recommend that people who want to take cinnamon as a food supplement are cautious and consult a doctor before using it.
CNN: Which people should be cautious?
Wen: According to study researchers, the list of chronic conditions that should require caution before trying cinnamon supplementation includes hypertension, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, asthma, obesity, HIV/AIDS and depression. I would add to this list anyone who uses anticoagulant medications – for example, someone with a history of heart disease and stroke, any medicines that are eliminated by the liver and other dietary supplements that may interact with cinnamon, including turmeric, ginseng and ginkgo biloba.
CNN: What about sprinkling cinnamon in coffee or pancakes? Should we worry?
Wen : Researchers are quite clear in stating that sprinkle cinnamon for typical culinary use will hardly cause problems. What they warn is what they call “excessive consumption.” This is not clearly defined, as the study was not designed to examine what could be a very high level of cinnamon. What excessive consumption probably refers is to the use of cinnamon concentrated products, such as cinnamon supplements, for a prolonged period – for example, taking cinnamon capsules every day for months. Individuals who are thinking of taking cinnamon supplements should consult their doctors to verify possible drug interactions. They should also be aware that there is no clear evidence of the cinnamon supplementation benefit.
CNN: What else would you like people to know before they started taking food supplements?
Wen: People should be cautious when taking food supplements. Just because something is marketed as “natural” doesn’t mean it is safe. Also, something that is safe in small quantities can become dangerous in large quantities. People should always tell your doctor which supplements are taking or thinking of taking to evaluate drug interactions.
This content was originally published in Canela can interfere with the effect of medicines, according to a new study on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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