Key TakeawaysA new examine discovered that cassia cinnamon could intrude with medicines.Cinnamon oil and Ceylon cinnamon didn’t have the identical results.The researchers advise in opposition to taking cinnamon dietary supplements.
Due to their medicinal qualities, herbs and spices have been used for 1000’s of years to deal with and forestall sickness. A kind of spices is cinnamon, which analysis suggests could assist decrease ldl cholesterol and scale back blood stress. There’s additionally proof that it helps wholesome blood sugar ranges. And since cinnamon has a pure sweetness, a sprinkle of it may be used instead of sugar to sweeten up your bowl of oatmeal or add a taste enhance to your morning joe.
However herbs and spices additionally require some warning. As a result of they’ll have medicinal properties, it’s essential to know how they might work together together with your physique and the medicines you are taking.
Researchers on the College of Mississippi simulated an intestinal setting within the laboratory to check cinnamon’s bioaccessibility, or the quantity that turns into accessible for absorption within the digestive tract after ingesting it. In addition they examined its metabolism—the way it’s damaged down within the physique—and the way it interacts with xenobiotic receptors. These are specialised receptors within the physique that sense and reply to international chemical compounds (on this case, the cinnamon).
They printed their findings in 2025 in Meals Chemistry: Molecular Sciences. Let’s break down what they discovered.
How Was This Examine Carried out?
Researchers simulated an intestinal setting within the lab utilizing gastric (abdomen) acid, liver and intestinal cells and enzymes. They examined varied elements of cinnamon in environments that mimicked fasting and fed states, since our intestinal environments change relying on whether or not we’ve eaten or not.
The elements of cinnamon embody cinnamon oil, cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid. Every was added to the assorted simulations, combined and incubated for various quantities of time, then examined.
What Did This Examine Present?
Researchers discovered that cinnamaldehyde reasonably activated the xenobiotic receptors. Which means that it may doubtlessly set off an herb-drug interplay, interfering with the absorption and effectiveness of medicines.
“Overconsumption of [cinnamon] dietary supplements may result in a speedy clearance of prescription medication from the physique, and that might end in making the medication much less efficient,” says Shabana Khan, Ph.D., one of many examine’s authors, in a press launch.
Like all research, this one comes with some limitations you have to be conscious of. Importantly, the examine was carried out within the lab, not on people. Whereas researchers can try and simulate a human setting, they can not completely mimic it. The conclusion that cinnamon extra rapidly clears remedy from the physique is a speculation primarily based on the examine outcomes, however it’s not but confirmed.
“We all know there’s a possible for cinnamaldehyde to activate these receptors that may pose a danger for drug interactions,” says Invoice Gurley, Ph.D., one other one of many researchers, within the press launch. “That’s what may occur, however we gained’t know precisely what is going to occur till we do a medical examine [on humans].”
How Does This Apply to Actual Life?
Researchers word that cinnamon oil, which is usually used as a flavoring in meals and as a necessary oil, poses virtually no danger of herb-drug interactions. Nor does Ceylon cinnamon, which is usually known as “true cinnamon.” Massive quantities of cassia cinnamon, nevertheless, needs to be used with warning.
Cassia cinnamon is the kind mostly bought within the U.S. It comes from Asia and is cheaper and has a stronger cinnamon taste than Ceylon cinnamon, which originates from Sri Lanka.
In comparison with Ceylon cinnamon, cassia cinnamon has additionally been proven to have a better quantity of coumarin, a substance identified to behave as a blood thinner. Steadily ingesting cassia cinnamon, whether or not in excessive quantities or as a complement, may doubtlessly pose a danger for these taking anticoagulant (blood thinner) medicines, like warfarin (Coumadin), apixaban (Eliquis), clopidogrel (Plavix) or aspirin.
These researchers advocate that anybody with a continual illness—together with hypertension, diabetes, most cancers, arthritis, bronchial asthma, HIV, AIDS or despair—discuss to their healthcare practitioner earlier than taking cassia cinnamon as a complement or repeatedly utilizing it in excessive doses in meals.
In the end, it’s all about steadiness. Even the healthiest meals can grow to be dangerous when consumed in excessive doses. When you’re considering taking cinnamon dietary supplements—otherwise you already are—test in together with your healthcare practitioner or pharmacist or meet with a registered dietitian to find out if that’s a protected route for you.
“You need not fully keep away from utilizing cinnamon in your meals should you’re on medicines,” senior diet editor Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, clarifies. “Many of the analysis about cinnamon impacting remedy absorption checked out cinnamon oils or concentrations of cinnamaldehyde which are increased than what you’d usually get from consuming it as a spice. That stated, it is a good reminder to make use of a reasonable quantity of spices and to be cautious when contemplating dietary dietary supplements, even when they seem to be a acquainted nutrient or spice.”
When you’re going to repeatedly use cinnamon in your meals and drinks, it could be most secure to make use of Ceylon cinnamon—or maintain cassia consumption to beneath 1 teaspoon per day. It’s additionally essential to notice that some producers “reduce” their cassia cinnamon with fillers, like these to assist forestall caking of the product. So what you sprinkle out of your spice bottle won’t be all cassia.
Sadly, the FDA doesn’t differentiate between the 2 sorts of cinnamon, however corporations that promote true Ceylon cinnamon will put it on the label. If it doesn’t say Ceylon, you’ll be able to assume it’s cassia.
We love utilizing cinnamon in baked items, like our Cinnamon Swirl Apple Pie and Cinnamon Streusel Banana Bread. It additionally provides a heat sweetness to our Cranberry-Apple Relish and completely enhances the chocolate in our Rooster with Fast Mole Sauce—so don’t really feel like it’s important to give it up.
The Backside Line
This examine means that cassia cinnamon, which has increased ranges of cinnamaldehyde than Ceylon cinnamon, could sweep medicines out of the physique too rapidly. Thus, it won’t permit the remedy sufficient time to carry out its capabilities.
Whereas extra analysis must be performed on this matter, it does add to the proof selling warning with cassia cinnamon, since we already know that it acts as a blood thinner. When you’re contemplating utilizing a cinnamon complement otherwise you repeatedly use cinnamon in your meals or drinks: seek the advice of with a medical skilled, keep on with not more than 1 teaspoon per day, and if attainable, use Ceylon cinnamon.
