Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) water extract improves diarrhea symptoms by changing the gut environment: a randomized controlled trial. Issue 3 (19th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Soo-yeon; Kim, Yong Dae; Kim, Min Seo; Kim, Ki-Tae; Kim, Ji Yeon
• Is Part Of: Food & function. Volume 14:Issue 3(2023)
• Page Start: 1520
• Page End: 1529
• Publication Date: 2023-01-19
• Subjects: Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1039/d2fo01835g
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2042-6496

Abstract

Abstract : Cinnamon water extract was found to slow the colonic transit time of stools and to alter the gut microbiota composition and its metabolites, thereby, alleviating diarrhea symptoms. Metabolic pathways related to gut microbiota were predicted. Abstract : Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the bark of Cinnamomum and contains anti-inflammatory ingredients such as coumarin, cinnamaldehyde, and cinnamic acid. This study evaluated the effect of cinnamon water extract (CWE) on the symptoms of subjects with diarrhea in an 8-week randomized controlled trial. Seventy subjects with diarrhea symptoms were randomized and received three capsules of 400 mg CWE or placebo twice daily for 8 weeks. CWE intake significantly increased colonic transit time ( p = 0.019) and fecal isobutyric acid ( p = 0.008) and spermidine ( p = 0.009) contents compared to placebo intake. In contrast, CWE decreased fecal indole ( p = 0.032) and agmatine ( p = 0.018) contents. Gut microbiota analysis showed increased alpha diversity and significant changes in strains such as Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 55813 (LDA = 1.38) in the CWE group compared with the placebo group. Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 55813 showed a positive correlation with colon transit time and stool phenol and spermidine contents. CWE improved diarrhea symptoms and changed the composition of stools and the gut microbiota. These results indicate that cinnamon intake relieves diarrhea symptoms through metabolic changes due to changes in intestinal microbial groups.