Efficacy of Cinnamon to Improve Appetite Hormones and Body Fat in Adolescents with Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health problems. Cinnamon is an alternative therapy because high concentrations of polyphenols and decreasing the proinflammatory environment. To determine the efficacy of a cinnamon on serum leptin, ghrelin levels and body adiposity among adolescents with obesity (BMI percentile ≥95)

Methods: Randomized controlled study. (Clinical Trials: NCT04476160).
We included patients from 10 to 18 years-old with obesity, and without any medical condition such as diabetes or medication use (hormonal supplements that could affect weight loss or insulin resistance).
Participants randomized to cinnamon 3000mg/day or placebo. Both groups received diet and physical activity recommendations. They will be followed for 16 weeks. Blood sample and anthropometric measurement was taken before and 16 weeks later.
Statistical analyses: Independent-samples U mann Whitney and chi-square analyses were used to compare groups at baseline

Results: From September 2019 to March 2020, 100 met eligibility criteria and were enrolled (Figure 1). Participants were randomized to the treatment or placebo group. Baseline characteristics of both groups were similar.
After 16 weeks, in the cinnamon group, there was significant reduction in leptin levels (-2.34 ng/ml vs 0.46 ng/ml, p = 0.02), body fat (-1.95% vs -0.40% p=0.01) and increase in ghrelin levels (2.6 pg/ml vs -0.96 pg/ml, p = 0.04), compared to placebo group.

Conclusion: In adolescents with obesity, cinnamon is effective to decrease serum leptin levels and body fat percentage and increased serum ghrelin levels after 16 weeks compared to placebo group.