Uzma Raza, Muhammad Furqan, Javed Altaf Baig, Mohammad Abdullah.
Hypocholesterolemic effect of Cinnamon: current trends and future strategies.
Med Channel Jan ;11(2):34-8.

BACKGROUND: Spices and vegetables posses antioxidant activity that can be applied for preservation of lipids and reduces lipid per oxidation in biological system and provide health benefits. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine whether cinnamon reduces total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in human subjects with and without any cardiac symptoms and exerts protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. METHOD: This was an experimental study carried out on seventy-five (75) human subjects, fifty (50) were reported hypercholesterolemic patients out the these, twenty five (25) were hypercholesterolaemic patients without any reported cardiac problem and twenty five (25) subjects were reported cardiac patients. Twenty five (25) normal healthy subjects were treated as control. Both the groups of hypercholesterolemic subjects were given 1.5 gms. of cinnamon per day in fasting state. Blood concentration of total cholesterols, HDL- cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol was estimated by using standard methods and compared with that of control subjects. RESULTS: After (40) forty days of cinnamon intake, total cholesterol level decreased significantly in both the hypercholesterolemic groups and returns to the normal level as that of control subjects. HDL – cholesterol level decreased in both the groups as compared to the untreated hypercholesterolemic subjects but the change was not significant, however when compared with that of control subjects, the levels were insignificantly elevated. Decrease in LDL cholesterol levels in both groups of hypercholesterolemic subjects was observed. In patients without cardiac involvement, LDL-cholesterol levels decreased significantly on cinnamon treatment. Where as in cardiac patients the effect of cinnamon on LDL-cholesterol levels was limited, it decreased significantly as compared to untreated cardiac patients, but was significantly raised as compared to control subjects. CONCLUSION: Cinnamon provides protection against cardiovascular diseases in hypercholesterolaemic subjects but this benefit becomes controversial in reported cardiac patients since LDL-cholesterol remains significantly elevated even after cinnamon treatment. HDL levels remain insignificantly elevated in both the groups after treatment, thus exerting protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. Along with lipid profile we have to consider other factors associated with cardiovascular diseases such as depression, which leads to abnormal platelet physiology and the role of cinnamon on this issue have to he studied.

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