The new findings indicated that cinnamaldehyde improves metabolic health by acting directly on fat cells.
Scientists from the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute had previously observed that cinnamaldehyde, an essential oil that gives cinnamon its flavor, appeared to protect mice against obesity and hyperglycemia. But the mechanisms underlying the effect were not well understood.
In order to better understand cinnamaldehyde’s action and determine whether it might be protective in humans, too, the scientists conducted further studies.
The new findings indicated that cinnamaldehyde improves metabolic health by acting directly on fat cells, or adipocytes, inducing them to start burning energy through a process called thermogenesis.
With the rising obesity epidemic, researchers have been looking for ways to prompt fat cells to activate thermogenesis, turning those fat-burning processes back on.
The team of researchers tested human adipocytes from volunteers representing a range of ages, ethnicities and body mass indices. When the cells were treated with cinnamaldehyde, the researchers noticed increased expression of several genes and enzymes that enhance lipid metabolism.
Further study is still needed to determine how best to harness cinnamaldehyde’s metabolic benefits without causing adverse side effects.
