When to take it
With food, e.g. in porridge, yoghurt or coffee.
← All supplements
OtherWeak evidence
Cinnamon
Also known as: Ceylon cinnamon, cassia, Cinnamomum verum
Cinnamon is a spice made from the dried bark of Cinnamomum trees. It is studied for blood sugar, but results are mixed and the effect is rather small; the key difference is between Ceylon cinnamon and cassia, which contains a lot of coumarin.
What it is used for
- support for fasting blood sugar – weak evidence, study results are mixed
- support for blood lipids – weak evidence
- antioxidant effect – evidence mostly from the lab
Forms and how they differ
Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)
very little coumarin, suitable for regular use
cassia (Chinese cinnamon)
common in shops, high in coumarin
water extract in capsules
coumarin content depends on the raw material and processing
Pairs well with
A low glycaemic load diet, fibre and exercise.
Do not combine / separate
Do not combine high doses with diabetes medicines without asking your doctor; do not combine cassia with medicines that burden the liver.
Watch out for
With liver disease, avoid cassia. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, use only normal food amounts. If you have diabetes, take blood thinners or other medicines, consult your doctor.
Safety
EFSA set a tolerable daily intake for coumarin of 0.1 mg per kg body weight; with cassia this can be exceeded with just one to two teaspoons a day. Do not exceed the label dose.
Practical tip
For regular use choose Ceylon cinnamon – look for 'Cinnamomum verum' or 'zeylanicum' on the label.
Products containing Cinnamon 1
Cinnamonpowder
How to read the evidence rating
Strong evidenceModerate evidenceWeak evidenceNo evidence
Strong = several good human studies or official recommendations; moderate = promising but smaller studies; weak = few studies or mixed results; no evidence = claims not confirmed.
Combination check
Select the supplements you take and, if relevant, your medicines. We show what interferes, what needs a time gap and what to watch out for.
Check Cinnamon with othersWhich supplements do you actually need?
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From the same group
AlfalfaNo evidenceAndrographisWeak evidenceAroniaWeak evidenceBarley grassWeak evidenceBee pollenWeak evidenceBeef organs (desiccated)Weak evidence
Important notice
This information is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist. We do not give medicine dosages. Supplements are no substitute for a varied diet; if pregnant, breastfeeding, ill or on medication, consult a doctor first.