Cinnamon may slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease, according to an article published in WellBeing.com this week. The Research in this article was sourced from the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology. This discovery is an encouraging advancement in the treatment of this devastating disease.
The article cites a new study that investigated both types of cinnamon, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum ) or Chinese cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia). The researchers for this study noted that both types of cinnamon, but especially Ceylon cinnamon, are metabolized into sodium benzoate which is an FDA approved drug for disorders of liver metabolism associated with a condition called hyperammonemia.
In the study mice were fed ground cinnamon. Researchers found that the cinnamon caused changes to the processes that are part of Parkinson’s Disease. For instance, the cinnamon caused an increase in two important proteins, Parkin and DJ-1. The presence of these proteins are known to decreas Parkinson’s symptoms. Researchers also noted that the ground cinnamon improved motor function in mice with Parkinson’s Disease.
Although these findings are not a cure for the disease, the researchers concluded that cinnamon could potentially be a safe way to help slow the progression of the disease.
