American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Volume 211, Issue 5, November 2014, Pages 487.e1–487.e6

Research

Preliminary evidence that cinnamon improves menstrual cyclicity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

• Daniel H. Kort, MD,
• Roger A. Lobo, MD

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2014.05.009

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Objective

To determine the effect of cinnamon on menstrual cyclicity and metabolic dysfunction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Study Design

In a prospective, placebo controlled, double-blinded randomized trial, 45 women with PCOS were randomized (1:1) to receive cinnamon supplements (1.5 g/d) or placebo for 6 months. Menstrual cyclicity (average cycles/month) during the 6 months study period was compared between the 2 groups using the Mann-Whitney U test. Changes in menstrual cyclicity and insulin resistance between baseline and the 6 month study period were compared between the 2 groups using Wilcoxon signed rank tests.

Results

The 45 women were randomized, 26 women completed 3 months of the study, and 17 women completed the entire 6 months of the study. During the 6 month intervention, menstrual cycles were more frequent in patients taking cinnamon compared with patients taking placebo (median, 0.75; interquartile range, 0.5−0.83 vs median, 0.25; interquartile range, 0−0.54; P = .0085; Mann Whitney U). In patients taking cinnamon, menstrual cyclicity improved from baseline (+ 0.23 cycles/month 95% confidence interval, 0.099−0.36), yet did not improve for women taking placebo. (P = .0076, Wilcoxon signed rank). Samples (n = 5) of serum from the luteal phase in different patients within the cinnamon group were thawed and ovulatory progesterone levels (>3 ng/mL) confirmed. Luteal phase progesterone levels (>3 ng/mL, n = 5) confirmed ovulatory menses. Measures of insulin resistance or serum androgen levels did not change for either group.

Conclusion

These preliminary data suggest that cinnamon supplementation improves menstrual cyclicity and may be an effective treatment option for some women with PCOS.

Key words

• cinnamon;
• PCOS;
• randomized controlled trial

The authors report no conflict of interest.

This research was supported by institutional funding (R.A.L., D.H.K.); the Endocrine Fellows Foundation (D.H.K., in part), which supplied endocrine assays; and Integrity Nutraceuticals International (Spring Hill, TN), which supplied the study drug and placebo.

Reprints not available from the authors.

Cite this article as: Kort DH, Lobo RA. Preliminary evidence that cinnamon improves menstrual cyclicity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2014;211:487.e1-6.

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.