Investigations into the Effects of Turmeric, Cinnamon and Green Tea on Glycaemic Control and Liver Enzymes

Lifestyle changes such as caloric over-consumption and decreased physical activity are causing overweight and obesity, leading to an epidemic increase in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Overweight, cardiovascular disease and diabetes are closely linked, and cardio-vascular disease is the most important cause of morbidity and
mortality among patients with T2DM. Identifying food that can reduce blood glucose and insulin, and increase satiety can help in the prevention and reduction of diabetes and overweight.
The aim of this research was to gain further knowledge of the role of nutritional interventions, in particular, to find functional foods that reduce postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels in order to improve glycaemic control. One of the studies was to gain an understanding of food factors affecting postprandial satiety.
The ingestion of 6 g turmeric increased postprandial serum insulin levels, but did not seem to affect plasma glucose levels or glycaemic index (GI) in healthy subjects.
Thus, turmeric may have an effect on insulin secretion. Green tea showed no glucose- or insulin-lowering effects. However, increased satiety and a feeling of fullness were reported by the participants after drinking green tea. The ingestion of 6 g Ceylon cinnamon had no significant effect on glucose level, insulin response, GI or
insulinaemic index. The ingestion of 6 g Cassia cinnamon twice a day for 12 weeks had no significant effect on insulin sensitivity, HbA1c, fasting glucose or body mass index. No significant changes were seen in lipids or liver enzymes.