⚠ Restricted by at least one regulator (EFSA) — see Regulatory alerts by country below.
⚠ Cassia coumarin: 2,100 mg/kg — EFSA UL exceeded by >1 tsp/day [1]
⚠ Ceylon: 0.017 mg/kg coumarin — safe for daily use [1]
⚠ Diabetes: adjunctive only (FBG −25 mg/dL) [2]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
FBG, HbA1c
FBG, HbA1c
Reference range / target
Improvement
Improvement
FBG −25 mg/dL expected [2].
Full lab monitoring ↓⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Culinary safe. Supplemental Cassia: coumarin concern [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Culinary safe [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: With meals [2].
💊 With food: With carb-containing meals [2].
🚫 Avoid: Daily Cassia >1 tsp (coumarin) [1].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['Ceylon cinnamon (C. verum)', 'preferred', 'Low coumarin. Safe for daily use [1].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Cassia cinnamon (C. cassia)', 'common', 'Most common commercial cinnamon. HIGH coumarin — limit daily use [1].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Cinnamon extract (Cinnulin PF)', 'preferred', 'Water-extracted, coumarin-removed. Most studied [2].'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
Ceylon vs Cassia — does it matter? ▼
YES — 100,000× coumarin difference. Cassia daily use exceeds EFSA coumarin limits easily. Ceylon is safe for daily supplementation [1].
Does cinnamon help diabetes? ▼
Modestly — FBG −25 mg/dL in meta-analysis. Adjunctive only, not a medication replacement [2].
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
Coumarin content: Cassia >> Ceylon (100,000×) — confirmed by analysis [1]. EFSA coumarin UL: 0.1 mg/kg/day [1]. HIGH
Moderate
Blood glucose: meta-analysis — FBG −25 mg/dL, HbA1c modest reduction in diabetics [2]. Lipids: modest TC reduction [2]. Insulin sensitivity: cinnamaldehyde mechanism [2]. MODERATE
Insufficient
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Relative
⚠ Cassia cinnamon is high in coumarin — hepatotoxic in excess; prefer Ceylon for daily/high use
⚠ Liver disease — avoid high-dose Cassia
⚠ Diabetes on medication — monitor for additive glucose lowering
⚠ Anticoagulants — coumarin content (mainly Cassia)
🚩 Red flags
● Patient using Cassia cinnamon daily at supplemental doses — coumarin hepatotoxicity [1]
● Diabetes patient using cinnamon as medication replacement — adjunctive only [2]
6 Interactions
Drug interactions
Diabetes medications Moderate
Mechanism: Additive glucose lowering. [2]
Effect: Hypoglycemia. [2]
Action: Monitor glucose [2].
Hepatotoxic drugs (with Cassia) Moderate
Mechanism: Additive coumarin hepatotoxicity. [1]
Effect: Liver injury. [1]
Action: Use Ceylon, not Cassia [1].
Supplement synergies
Berberine · 500 mg berberine BID
Dual insulin-sensitizing mechanisms [2].
Dual insulin-sensitizing mechanisms [2].
7 Regulatory
EFSA: Coumarin TDI: 0.1 mg/kg/day. Exceeded by >1 tsp Cassia daily [1].
8 Regulatory alerts by country
1 regulatory action on record, each linking to the issuing authority.
Restricted · 1
🇪🇺
EFSA — Coumarin TDI 0.1 mg/kg BW/day. Cassia type exceeds limits at typical supplement doses.
EFSA scientific opinion / safety assessment underpinning EU intake limits or safety concern for this substance.
Source ↗ · 2024-01-01
9 US supplement products
269
on-market products containing Cinnamon (NIH DSLD)
Brands carrying Cinnamon (171)
Click a brand to see its Cinnamon products.
10 Frequently paired with
11 References (2)
[1]Abraham K, et al. Toxicology and risk assessment of coumarin. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2010;54(2):228-239. doi:10.1002/mnfr.200900281 REVIEW Accessed: 2026-05-29
[2]Allen RW, et al. Cinnamon use in type 2 diabetes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Fam Med. 2013;11(5):452-459. doi:10.1370/afm.1517 META-ANALYSIS Accessed: 2026-05-29
12 Related articles
Auto-populated from GMJ Newsroom. Articles tagged "Cinnamon".
13 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Cinnamon — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Jun 02]. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/food-supplements
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Cinnamon — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/food-supplements
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: December 2026
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Cinnamon — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/food-supplements CC BY 4.0.
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Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG