NEW DELHI:  Spice commonly used in Indian kitchens may have health benefits, a new study has indicated.
A clinical trial conducted in New Delhi has found that consumption of cinnamon (dalchini) powder helps address obesity and symptoms of metabolic disorder.
The study, done at the Fortis Diabetes Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation,involved 116 men and women having conditions such as abdominal obesity,impaired glucose tolerance, high triglycerides and hypertension.
After consuming 3 grams of cinnamon powder per day for 16 weeks, the average weight reduced was from 89 to 85 kilograms in the cinnamon group, while it reduced from 82 from 81 kilograms in the control group who were not given cinnamon. Along with dietary intervention, they were all prescribed brisk walking for 45 minutes every day. Patients were monitored two times a week.
Researchers said consuming cinnamon along with dietary changes and physical exercise decreased fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, waist circumference, and body mass index. It also improved waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and beneficial high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
ÂCinnamon is a spice which is commonly used in Indian cooking and hence can be easily incorporated in our daily dietaries, which will balance out metabolism betterÂ, said Dr. Seema Puri, Associate Professor at Institute of Home Economics,who contributed to the study. The study results have been published in the June 2017 issue of the journal Lipids in Health and Disease.
A few previous studies have shown that cinnamon improves insulin sensitivity,reduces blood glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol, and blood antioxidant levels. But these have were done with a few patients. 
Doctors suggest that the possible mode of action of cinnamon may involve inhibiting activity of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, stimulating cellular glucose uptake, and enhancing insulin sensitivity. ÂThe study is scientifically well planned, but I have some reservations as the study groups were not matching at baseline. It is a major issue in double blind placebo controlled studies and it raises doubts over successful implementation of planÂ,says Dr. Rajesh Khadgawat, from the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi, who is not connected with the study.
Dr Anoop Mishra, one of the authors of the study, agreed that Âthere are baseline differences in the average weight between the two groups but said Âwe have adjusted the analysis for that and found significant differences in outcomes that are validÂ. (India Science Wire)