NEW YORK – Cinnamon is a popular ingredient in baked goods, but could the spice also help boost your odds of having a bun in the oven?
A small study by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center tested the impact of daily cinnamon supplements in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
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Five to 10 percent of women of childbearing age are estimated to suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome, which can cause menstrual irregularity, infertility, acne, excess hair growth on the face or body and thinning hair on the scalp.
In this study, eleven patients received daily 1,500-milligram cinnamon supplements. Five other patients received a placebo.
Researchers said the women who took cinnamon supplements had nearly twice as many menstrual cycles over a six-month period as the patients who received the placebo. Two of the patients in the cinnamon group also became pregnant.
While it's not clear exactly why cinnamon may help with polycystic ovary syndrome, previous research has suggested cinnamon can reduce insulin resistance in patients with diabetes.