Vallianou, NataliaTsang, CatherineTaghizadeh, MohsenDavoodvandi, AmirhosseinJafarnejad, Sadegh2025-07-312025-07-312018-12-07Vallianou, N., Tsang, C., Taghizadeh, M., Davoodvandi, A. and Jafarnejad, S. (2019) ‘Effect of cinnamon (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum) supplementation on serum C-reactive protein concentrations: A meta-analysis and systematic review’, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 42, pp. 271–278. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.005.0965-2299https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/14345https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.005Catherine Tsang - ORCID: 0000-0003-3102-0373 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3102-0373Item is not available in this repository.Objective: The effect of cinnamon (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum) on serum C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase protein commonly used as a marker of inflammation, is uncertain. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of cinnamon to determine the effect on levels of serum CRP, relative to controls. Design: Studies were identified by a search of electronic databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and Scopus before August 2018. Combined and stratified analyses were used. Weighted mean differences (WMD) and its 95% confidence interval were estimated for net change in serum CRP by using random-effects model. The heterogeneity of meta-analysis was assessed by χ2 and I2 test. Results: Six studies were identified, and data from 285 participants were included. Pooled analysis showed significant reductions in serum CRP (WMD: −0.81 mg/L, 95% CI: −1.36 to −0.26, p = 0.004), with significant heterogeneity between selected studies. Improvements in sub-group analysis were observed when baseline CRP levels were greater than 3 mg/dL, and in trials of >12 weeks duration. Doses <1500 mg/day and ≥1500 mg/day were effective in lowering serum CRP (WMD: −0.56 mg/dL, 95% CI: −1.01 to -0.10, p = 0.02 and WMD: −2.13 mg/dL, 95% CI: −4.08 to −0.19, p = 0.03), respectively, with significantly reduced heterogeneity in trials with lower doses of cinnamon <1500 mg/day (test for heterogeneity: P = 0.22 and I2 = 33%). No changes were found in controls. Conclusion: Cinnamon supplementation improves levels of serum CRP, particularly in chronic conditions, where basal CRP levels are raised. Further well-designed studies are warranted to confirm or not the above-mentioned findings.271–278enAnti-inflammatoryCinnamonCRPMeta-analysisRCTAnimation