title: The effect of a cinnamon-, chromium- and magnesium-formulated honey on glycaemic control, weight loss and lipid parameters in type 2 diabetes: an open-label cross-over randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This randomised controlled trial assessed the acute and long-term effects of daily supplementation of kanuka honey, formulated with cinnamon, chromium and magnesium on glucose metabolism, weight and lipid parameters in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve individuals with type 2 diabetes received 53.5 g of a formulated honey and a control (non-formulated) kanuka honey in a random order for 40 days, using cross-over design. Fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, lipids and anthropometric measures were measured at baseline and end of treatment. A meal tolerance test was performed at baseline to assess acute metabolic response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference in acute glucose metabolism between treatment groups, as measured by the Matsuda index and AUC for glucose and insulin. After the 40-day intervention with honey, fasting glucose did not differ significantly between the two treatments (95 % CI -2.6 to 0.07). There was no statistically significant change in HbA1c or fasting insulin. There was a statistically significant reduction in total cholesterol by -0.29 mmol/L (95 % CI -0.57 to -0.23), LDL cholesterol by -0.29 mmol/L (95 % CI -0.57 to -0.23) and weight by -2.2 kg (95 % CI -4.2 to -0.1). There was a trend towards increased HDL and reduced systolic blood pressure in the intervention treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of cinnamon, chromium and magnesium supplementation to kanuka honey was not associated with a significant improvement in glucose metabolism or glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Use of the formulated honey was associated with a reduction in weight and improvements in lipid parameters, and should be investigated further.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Endocrine, Diabetes and Obesity Research, Wellington Regional Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand. patricia.whitfield@ccdhb.org.nz.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whitfield
authors.affiliation: Centre for Endocrine, Diabetes and Obesity Research, Wellington Regional Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parry-Strong
authors.affiliation: Centre for Endocrine, Diabetes and Obesity Research, Wellington Regional Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weatherall
authors.affiliation: Centre for Endocrine, Diabetes and Obesity Research, Wellington Regional Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand.|Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jeremy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Krebs
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis*; D002935:Cinnamomum zeylanicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol; D002857:Chromium; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin; D008274:Magnesium
keywords: Chromium; Cinnamon; Diabetes; Honey; Lipids; Magnesium