Systematic Review of Literature Up to 31 December 2025 on the Potential Health Benefits of Cinnamon - mauriceling/mauriceling.github.io GitHub Wiki

Citation: Lim, RJL, Ling, MHT. 2026. Systematic Review of Literature Up to 31 December 2025 on the Potential Health Benefits of Cinnamon. EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports 9(4): 01-14.

Link to [PDF].

Here is the permanent [PDF] and [dataset] links to my archive.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum) is often marketed as a natural remedy for various health conditions, which requires verification. This systematic review evaluates the clinical and preclinical evidence behind cinnamon's purported health benefits. Following a database search of literature published up to 31 December 2025 in PubMed and followed by six inclusion criteria, 26 of the original 201 studies were included. These studies were grouped into four categories: (i) cardiometabolic health and glycemic regulation; (ii) anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and tissue protection; (iii) other bioactive effects including antimicrobial and longevity; and (iv) safety and toxicology. The most robust finding across the literature is that cinnamon acutely blunts post-prandial glucose spikes in healthy and overweight adults, while significantly reducing post-prandial insulin specifically in overweight and obese populations. Beyond this short-term effect, the clinical evidence is inconsistent. Results for long-term blood sugar control (HbA1c) are mixed. Though animal studies show cardiovascular benefits, human trials do not. Furthermore, claims regarding brain health, gut health, antimicrobial effects, and reproduction have not been proven in humans. Safety data is incomplete. Low doses (up to 500 mg/day) appear safe for healthy adults but providing standard clinical doses to lactating animals cause metabolic issues in their offspring. In conclusion, cinnamon is a useful dietary addition for managing post-meal blood sugar but current evidence does not support broader medical claims. To establish true clinical utility, future research requires chemically standardized extracts, thorough safety testing, and larger human trials lasting at least 12 weeks.