Metabolic and endocrine changes induced by cinnamon in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A pilot study

Peivandi, Sepideh; Heydari-latibari, Sahar; Ghasemzadeh, Fatemeh; Zamaniyan, Marzieh; Bahar, Adele; Majidi, Hadi; Maleki, Behnam

doi:10.22038/ajp.2023.23357

Metabolic and endocrine changes induced by cinnamon in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A pilot study

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

¹ Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of OB/GYN, IVF Ward, Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

² Department of OB/GYN, IVF Ward, Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

³ Diabetic Research Center, Department of OB/GYN, IVF Ward, Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

⁴ Department of Endocrinology, Diabetic Research Center, Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

⁵ Department of Radiology, Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

⁶ IVF Ward, Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

10.22038/ajp.2023.23357

Abstract

Objective: Most polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients have metabolic abnormalities in which insulin resistance (IR) plays a pivotal role. Cinnamon is a herbal medicine with insulinotropic properties. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of cinnamon on ovarian volume, androgenic profile, and metabolic and anthropometric parameters in women with PCOS.
Materials and Methods: A single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was carried out on 39 overweight / obese women with PCOS. For six months, subjects in the cinnamon (500 mg) (n=19) and placebo (n=20) groups were given three capsules daily. Before and after the intervention, the variables were assessed. The data was analyzed using the GraphPad Prism software.
Results: After the intervention, the two intervention and control groups had significant differences in abdominal subcutaneous fat and ovarian volume, but they did not differ significantly in terms of body mass index (BMI). Also, after the intervention, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of lipid profile and the concentration of androgenic biomarkers of insulin resistance.
Conclusion: Cinnamon supplementation improves ovarian volume and subcutaneous abdominal fat but has no effect on anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, insulin resistance, or androgen hormones.

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