Cinnamon extract inhibits the postprandial overproduction of apolipoprotein B48-containing lipoproteins in fructose-fed animals.

J Nutr Biochem. 2009 Nov;20(11):901-8.

Cinnamon extract inhibits the postprandial overproduction of apolipoprotein B48-containing lipoproteins in fructose-fed animals.
Qin B, Polansky MM, Sato Y, Adeli K, Anderson RA.

Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. bolin.qin@ars.usda.gov

We have reported previously that a cinnamon extract (CE), high in type A polyphenols, prevents fructose feeding-induced decreases in insulin sensitivity and suggested that improvements of insulin sensitivity by CE were attributable, in part, to enhanced insulin signaling. In this study, we examined the effects of CE on postprandial apolipoprotein (apo) B-48 increase in fructose-fed rats, and the secretion of apoB48 in freshly isolated intestinal enterocytes of fructose-fed hamsters. In an olive oil loading study, a water-soluble CE (Cinnulin PF, 50 mg/kg body weight, orally) decreased serum triglyceride (TG) levels and the over production of total- and TG-rich lipoprotein-apoB48. In ex vivo (35)S labeling study, significant decreases were also observed in apoB48 secretion into the media in enterocytes isolated from fructose-fed hamsters. We also investigated the molecular mechanisms of the effects of CE on the expression of genes of the insulin signaling pathway [insulin receptor (IR), IR substrate (IRS)1, IRS2 and Akt1], and lipoprotein metabolism [microsomal TG transfer protein (MTP), sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP1c) in isolated primary enterocytes of fructose-fed hamsters, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The CE reversed the expression of the impaired IR, IRS1, IRS2 and Akt1 mRNA levels and inhibited the overexpression of MTP and SREBP1c mRNA levels of enterocytes. Taken together, our data suggest that the postprandial hypertriglycerides and the overproduction of apoB48 can be acutely inhibited by a CE by a mechanism involving improvements of insulin sensitivity of intestinal enterocytes and regulation of MTP and SREBP1c levels. We present both in vivo and ex vivo evidence that a CE improves the postprandial overproduction of intestinal apoB48-containing lipoproteins by ameliorating intestinal insulin resistance and may be beneficial in the control of lipid metabolism.

When consuming cinnamon, make sure not to consume cassia (cinnamomum aromaticum), the cheap cinnamon, but cinnamomum verum (also known as "ceylon cinnamon").
Cassia (most of the spice sold as cinnamon in the United States and Canada, where true cinnamon is still generally unknown, is actually cassia) contains the toxic (to the liver and kidneys) component called coumarin.
Also these water-soluble extracts of cinnamon were extracted from cassia and thus, contain significant amounts of coumarin.
So watch out for low, low amounts of coumarin.

ppm - I always look for the Cinnulin PF, which is type A polyphenols. All the good and none of the toxic byproducts.

Old bump but whats a good cinnamon, my mother and sister have been taking Cinnamomum cassia (bark) so would I advise them against it, for the Cinnamomum verum or Cinnulin PF , however Cinnulin PF says not take if pregnant or nursing, as with some other bottles I looked at, but the one my sister is taking does not state anything about that... reason asking is my sister is expecting... Thanks for the help!

sc871 - The difference between Type A polyphenols in Cinnulin and what's in Cinnamon bark is that the Cinnulin only contains water soluble antioxidants, not the volatile fat soluble compounds found in regular cinnamon.

Regular cinnamon is considered a food, so there is no label requirement for a precaution. But many supplement manufactures will place a warning label, even if there is no proof of harm--they do it as a precaution.

In other words, it's probably safer to use Cinnulin PF than lots of cinnamon.