Mechanistic and therapeutic insight into the effects of cinnamon in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review.

2021-10-09
Journal of ovarian research 14(1)
- Vahid Maleki
- Amir Hossein Faghfouri
- Fatemeh Pourteymour Fard Tabrizi
- Jalal Moludi
- Sevda Saleh-Ghadimi
- Hamed Jafari-Vayghan
- Shaimaa A Qaisar

PubMed: 34627352
DOI: 10.1186/s13048-021-00870-5

Study Design

Type: Systematic Review
Population: subjects with PCOS
Methods: Systematic review of clinical trials, animal studies, and published English-language journal studies; PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, ProQuest and Google Scholar were searched from their very inception until January, 2020

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine diseases in the women at their reproductive age. Nowadays, the use of herbal compounds for lesser side effects, as compared to drug treatments, has become popular for the prevention and reduction of the complications of this disease. Evidence suggests that cinnamon, given its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, can be associated with reduced metabolic complications from chronic non-communicable diseases. This systematic review aimed to determine the potential effect of cinnamon on the metabolic status in the PCOS. PICO framework for current systematic review was Population (P): subjects with PCOS; Intervention (I): oral cinnamon supplement; Comparison (C): the group as control or administered placebo; and Outcome (O): changed inflammatory, oxidative stress, lipid profile, glycemic, hormonal and anthropometric parameters and ovarian function. PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, ProQuest and Google Scholar were searched from their very inception until January, 2020, considering specific keywords to explore the related studies. Out of 266 studies retrieved by the search strategy, only nine were eligible for evaluation. All clinical trials, animal studies, and published English-language journal studies were eligible for this review. The results showed that increased high-density lipoprotein and insulin sensitivity were increased by the cinnamon supplementation while low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and blood glucose were decreased in patients with PCOS. However, the results related to the potential effects of cinnamon on body weight and body mass index were inconsistent, thus calling for further studies. Also, despite improved results regarding the effect of cinnamon on oxidative stress and ovarian function, further studies are required to explore the precise mechanisms. Overall, the effects of cinnamon on the improvement of metabolic status in PCOS were promising. However, to observe clinical changes following cinnamon supplementation in PCOS, more clinical trials with higher doses of cinnamon and a longer duration of intervention are needed.

Research Insights

Cinnamon→Improved Insulin Sensitivity
The results showed that increased high-density lipoprotein and insulin sensitivity were increased by the cinnamon supplementation
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Cinnamon→Improved Ovarian Function
Despite improved results regarding the effect of cinnamon on oxidative stress and ovarian function, further studies are required to explore the precise mechanisms
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Cinnamon→Improved Oxidative Status
Despite improved results regarding the effect of cinnamon on oxidative stress and ovarian function, further studies are required to explore the precise mechanisms
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Cinnamon→Reduced Blood Glucose Levels
low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and blood glucose were decreased in patients with PCOS
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Cinnamon→Reduced Body Mass Index
the results related to the potential effects of cinnamon on body weight and body mass index were inconsistent, thus calling for further studies
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Cinnamon→Reduced Body Weight
the results related to the potential effects of cinnamon on body weight and body mass index were inconsistent, thus calling for further studies
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Cinnamon→Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level
low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and blood glucose were decreased in patients with PCOS
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Cinnamon→Reduced Triglyceride Levels
low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and blood glucose were decreased in patients with PCOS
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small

Adverse Events Reported

Cinnamon→Overall tolerability
The results showed that increased high-density lipoprotein and insulin sensitivity were increased by the cinnamon supplementation while low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and blood glucose were decreased in patients with PCOS.
Finding
Reported