Ameliorative effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts on adiposity, insulin sensitivity and cardiometabolic risk factors associated with insulin resistance in high fructose-fed rats

Introduction: Evidence(s) established that high fructose (HFr) diet may be responsible for the development of insulin resistance (IR). The aim is to appraise the ameliorative effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark extracts on adiposity, insulin sensitivity (IS) and cardiometabolic markers in HFr diet-induced IR. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 Wistar male albino rats (240-300 g) were divided into five groups (n = 6) and had free access to both diet and water. Groups I and II served as normal control and HFr control (HFrC), received gum acacia (2%) and fructose (60% w/v) diet. Groups III-V were orally administered pioglitazone (PGZ 50 mg/kg/b.wt), aqueous (Cinnamon bark aqueous extract [CBAE] 1 g/kg/b.wt), and ethanolic (Cinnamon bark ethanolic extract [CBEE] 1 g/kg/b.wt) extracts of cinnamon bark, respectively, from day 28 onwards till end of the study. All the groups, except normal control received HFr diet for 42 days. At the end weight gain, adiposity, adiponectin, and cardiometabolic markers (C-reactive protein and uric acid), and cardiovascular (CV) risks, IR and IS indices were evaluated. Results: HFr feeding significantly increased weight gain, adiposity and decreased adiponectin levels along with increased cardiometabolic markers as compared to normal control. HFrC significantly increased the CV and decreased IS indices as compared to normal control. PGZ, CBAE, and CBEE groups significantly reduced adiposity, and both cinnamon groups had decreased the weight gain as compared to HFrC. PGZ and CBAE significantly increased adiponectin levels, whereas cinnamon groups and PGZ had decreased cardiometabolic markers as compared to HFrC. Similarly, PGZ and cinnamon extracts had improved IS as compared to HFrC. Conclusion: The study concluded that cinnamon extracts had exhibited insulin-sensitizing effects in IR and associated metabolic risk factors by modulating adiponectin in HFr fed rats. Therefore, the study proposes to use cinnamon as a functional food supplement in the management of diabetes and obesity.