Cinnamon and Reduced Body Weight

Research synthesisLow evidenceSmall effect3 studies · 1 beneficial · 2 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, 2 reported neutral small effects and 1 reported a beneficial small effect, indicating a predominantly neutral direction with small effect size. No studies reached statistical significance. Studies were conducted in clinical populations (type 2 diabetes, PCOS) with a median duration of 84 days (12 weeks).

Studied populations: People with type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Many of the included studies did not reach statistical significance — effect may be smaller than the predominant direction suggests. The only beneficial study is a narrative review with low evidence quality, while the highest-quality RCT found no benefit.

Generated Jul 5, 2026

Doses used in studies

mg/day: 600 (median 600, IQR 600–600) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 2.8 months · IQR 2.8 months–2.8 months · Range 2.8 months–2.8 months — Reported in 1 of 3 studies

Safety in these studies

Overall tolerabilityReported
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.
from: Mechanistic and therapeutic insight into the effects of cinnamon in polycystic ovary syndr

3 of 3 papers

The efficacy and safety of berberine in combination with cinnamon supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical trial.
- 2025-02-25
- RCT
- European journal of nutrition 64(2)
- - Asieh Mansour
  - Sayed Mahmoud Sajjadi-Jazi
  - Hadis Gerami
  - Atie Sadat Khorasanian
  - Behnam Moalemzadeh
  - Sara Karimi
  - Nima Mohamadi Afrakoti
  - Vahid Mofid
  - Mohammad Reza Mohajeri-Tehrani
  - Azita Hekmatdoost
- PubMed: 39998703
- DOI: 10.1007/s00394-025-03618-9
10 Insights on
- Reduced Body Weight
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Clinical
there was no difference in other measured metabolic and anthropometric parameters between the two groups
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
600 mg/day
Mechanistic and therapeutic insight into the effects of cinnamon in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review.
- 2021-10-09
- Systematic Review
- 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
8 Insights on
- Reduced Body Weight
- High evidence
- Clinical
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
Significant
No
Exploring the Antioxidative Effects of Ginger and Cinnamon: A Comprehensive Review of Evidence and Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Other Oxidative Stress-Related Disorders.
- 2024-03-25
- Review · n = 65
- Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) 13(4)
- - Sladjana Novakovic
  - Vladimir Jakovljevic
  - Nikola Jovic
  - Kristina Andric
  - Milica Milinkovic
  - Teodora Anicic
  - Bozidar Pindovic
  - Elena Nikolaevna Kareva
  - Vladimir Petrovich Fisenko
  - Aleksandra Dimitrijevic
  - Jovana Joksimovic Jovic
- PubMed: 38671840
- DOI: 10.3390/antiox13040392
4 Insights on
- Reduced Body Weight
- Moderate evidence
- Clinical
Cinnamon and ginger can affect hormonal status, lipid profile, obesity, and insulin resistance by mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small

Cinnamon and Reduced Body Weight

The efficacy and safety of berberine in combination with cinnamon supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical trial.

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

Exploring the Antioxidative Effects of Ginger and Cinnamon: A Comprehensive Review of Evidence and Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Other Oxidative Stress-Related Disorders.