Review of complementary and alternative medicine and selected nutraceuticals: background for a pilot study on nutrigenomic intervention in patients with advanced cancer.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the role of cinnamon extract in decreasing serum glucose levels as part of an integrative cancer care protocol.
Results Summary
The study reported that cinnamon extract decreases serum glucose levels, suggesting potential benefits for metabolic regulation. No specific data on the magnitude or statistical significance of this effect were provided in the abstract.
Population
Patients undergoing integrative cancer care (specific details not provided).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins | neutral | immunomodulation | - | - | are thought to play important roles in | #1 |
Magnesium oxide | decrease | inflammation | - | - | has been shown to decrease | #2 |
Magnesium oxide | increase | insulin resistance | - | - | has been shown to improve | #3 |
Magnesium oxide | increase | lipid profiles | - | - | has been shown to improve | #4 |
Cinnamon extract | decrease | serum glucose levels | - | - | reportedly decreases | #5 |
As commonly defined, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad category that includes biologically based practices, mind-body medicine, manipulative and bodybased practices, and energy medicine as well as complete medical systems such as naturopathy, homeopathy, Ayurvedic medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine. Several CAM methodologies show promise for the treatment of chronic conditions such as depression and pain disorders or have demonstrated effects upon the immune response in experimental studies. There is growing interest in the use of integrative medicine the combination of CAM methodologies with a conventional medical approach-for the optimization of treatment of various cancers. The Ohio State University Center for Integrative Medicine has developed a specialized nutrigenomic protocol for integrative cancer care. The center uses a comprehensive nutritional and medical evaluation, including a panel of proinflammatory molecules and physiologic parameters, to guide a program of individualized dietary interventions. Dietary supplementation is a current focus of study, including: (1) Omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins, which are thought to play important roles in immunomodulation; (2) Magnesium oxide, which has been shown to decrease inflammation and improve insulin resistance and lipid profiles; and (3) Cinnamon extract, which reportedly decreases serum glucose levels. This article presents a brief overview of CAM and integrative medicine and a discussion of the relevant nutraceuticals.