The impact of cinnamon on anthropometric indices and glycemic status in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

Background and aims: There is some evidence regarding the positive effects of cinnamon on metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, they are conflicting. In the present study, we aimed to systematically review the effects of cinnamon on glycemic status and anthropometric indices in patients with T2DM. Methods: Five electronic databases including PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Sciences, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library were searched until 31 February 2018 with no language limitation. Randomized clinical trials that examined the effects of cinnamon on at least fasting blood sugar (FBS) were included. Other glycemic parameters and anthropometric indices were also extracted. A random effects model with DerSimonian and Laird method was used for pooling the effect sizes. Results: Finally, 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Supplementation with cinnamon reduced FBS by �19.26 mg/dL (95 CI: �28.08, �10.45; I 2 :96.5; p = 0.0001) compared to placebo. However, the effects of cinnamon on HbA1C (�0.24; 95 CI: �0.48, �0.01; I 2 : 76.8, p = 0.0001), body weight (�0.46, 95CI: �1.87, 2.30; I 2 :0; p = 0.79), body mass index (WMD: �0.05 kg/m2; 95 CI: �0.52, 0.42; I 2 : 0; p = 0.91), and waist circumference (WMD: �0.53 cm; 95 CI: �3.96, 2.81; I 2 : 0; p = 0.66) were not significant. Additionally, cinnamon did not change the serum levels of insulin and insulin resistance significantly. Conclusion: Supplementation with cinnamon can reduce serum levels of glucose with no changes in other glycemic parameters and anthropometric indices. However, due to high heterogeneity findings should be interpreted with great caution. © 2019 Elsevier Lt

Comparing carotid intima-media thickness between the type 1 diabetes mellitus and healthy individuals

Background: Increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is considered as a marker for early detection of atherosclerotic changes in the arterial walls. The purpose of this study was to assess CIMT in type 1 diabetic patients compared to controls. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was performed on 34 patients with type 1diabetes mellitus and 33 healthy people in Kashan during 2013-2014. The inclusion criterion was the diabetes history more than one year and the exclusion criteria were the use of antihypertensive or lipid reducing drugs, smoking, family history of cardiovascular disease, any complications of diabetes and any chronic disease. The weight, height, blood pressure and CIMT of the patients were measured. Moreover, laboratory tests including fast blood sugar, Hb A1c and lipid tests were performed.Results: Sixty-seven subjects (34 type 1 diabetes patients and 33 healthy controls) were evaluated. The mean history of diabetes mellitus was 76.03±51.44 months. The mean age of the healthy subjects was 15.35±5.73 years and for the patients 15.25±7.94 years. Mean CIMT in healthy subjects was 0.439±0.06 mm and in patients 0.478±0.05 mm (P=0.005). Moreover, maximum CIMT was higher in the patients than in the controls (P=0.01). The multiple linear regression showed that CIMT was about 0.012 units higher in diabetic patients than in controls, and also CIMT was increased 0.012 units per one unit increase in HbA1c values.Conclusion: The mean CIMT in patients with type 1diabetes was higher than in the controls and positively correlated with the history of diabetes, while it does not correlate with the lipid profiles, blood pressure and body mass index

Is there any association between fruit consumption and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: Although a considerable number of studies have illustrated the positive effects of fresh fruits on metabolic status, the impacts of fruits on the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are inconsistent. In consideration of this issue, we aimed to systematically summarize the findings of cohort studies with respect to the link between fresh fruits and the risk of GDM. Method: We selected cohort studies with English language indexed in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase from 2000 to 31 January 2018. To examine the link between fresh fruits and the risk of GDM development, relative risk (RR) and 95 confidence intervals (CIs) for the highest versus the lowest consumption of fruits were pooled using a random effect model and the DerSimonian and Laird method. Results: Out of 2522 publications, finally 5 cohort studies were obtained. No significant association between fruit consumption and GDM incidence was found (Pooled RR: 0.95; 95 CI: 0.84, 1.08; I2: 90.3 , p = 0001). In women who consumed higher amount of fruits before pregnancy, the risk of GDM was 5 lower than in those who consumed lower amount of fruits (0.95; 95 CI: 0.91, 0.99, I2: 0, p = 0.85). No link was obtained between fruit consumption during the pregnancy and GDM onset (1.18, 95 CI: 0.48, 2.91; I2:94.6 , p = 0.0001). Conclusion: In women who consumed greater fruits before pregnancy, the risk for GDM was 5 lower than those consumed lower amounts of fruits, while there was no link between fruit consumption throughout the pregnancy and GDM onset. However, due to limited studies and considerable heterogeneity, the findings must be interpreted with great caution. © 2020 Elsevier Lt