Common Household Spice Could Mess With Your Medications
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A new study suggested that certain types of cinnamon products could interfere with some medications due to their metabolic impacts.
Researchers from the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) at the University of Mississippi illustrated this by testing the absorption of medications following cinnamon intake in a material simulating fasting gastric fluid.
"People who suffer from chronic diseases – like hypertension, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, asthma, obesity, HIV, AIDS or depression – should be cautious when using cinnamon or any other supplements," Shabana Khan, a principal scientist in the natural products center, said in the press release, adding "By definition, supplements are not meant to treat, cure or mitigate any disease."
Why It Matters
The common spice is found in many homes, restaurants, and coffee houses and while researchers say having a little of it is harmless, larger quantities could cause potential medication efficacy issues.
It has long been known to have good metabolic and anti-inflammatory properties and thus has been marketed as supplements in different forms, including oils, powder and capsules.
What To Know
The study from the NCNPR says not knowing the source and quantity of cinnamaldehyde in the cinnamon can create dangerous situations, especially for those with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer and depression.
When taken in large doses, like those which can be found in some supplements, it can lead to a change in how quickly the large intestine can absorb the medicine, and thus, how effective the treatment will be on an individual.
Researchers tested using cinnamaldehyde, the active component that gives the spice its scent and flavor.
They found that the absorption of medications into the simulated gastric fluid was slowed after adding cinnamaldehyde in comparison to the fluid that did not have it added.
While the results aren't definitive, they do point in a direction of danger, leading researchers to caution medication takers and seek further research.
NCNPR Associate Director Amar Chittiboyina said the issues don't extend to all cinnamon products.
He said cinnamon oil doesn't have the same risk of drug interactions as cinnamon bark, which can have a large amount of coumarin, a blood thinner. This is mostly found in Cassia cinnamon from southern China, according to Chittiboyina.
"In contrast, true cinnamon from Sri Lanka carries a lower risk due to its reduced coumarin content," he explained in the press release. "Coumarin's anticoagulant properties can be hazardous for individuals on blood thinners."
In this stock image, cinnamon is seen in Berlin on January 20.
In this stock image, cinnamon is seen in Berlin on January 20.What People Are Saying
Bill Gurley, a principal scientist in the Ole Miss center and co-author of the study, said: "We know there's a potential for cinnamaldehyde to activate these receptors that can pose a risk for drug interactions. That's what could happen, but we won't know exactly what will happen until we do a clinical study."
Shabana Khan, a principal scientist in the natural products center, said in the press release: "Health concerns could arise if excessive amounts of supplements are consumed without the knowledge of health care provider or prescriber of the medications. Overconsumption of supplements could lead to a rapid clearance of the prescription medicine from the body, and that could result in making the medicine less effective."
What Happens Next?
Gurley said a clinical study is needed to further study the effects of cinnamaldehyde on patients' medication consumption and efficacy of those medications.
While those studies are not yet completed, researchers say people should talk to their doctor before adding any cinnamon supplements to their diet in addition to medications.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
17 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Massive Great White Shark Pings Off Nantucket Coast: Track Its Movements
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A colossal great white shark recently surfaced off the coast of New England — and has continued to lurk along the Atlantic coastline this summer, researchers said. The 13-foot-9-inch specimen, dubbed "Contender," weighs 1,653 pounds, marking the largest male white shark ever tagged in the western Atlantic by OCEARCH, a nonprofit marine research organization. The apex predator, first tagged in January roughly 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, surfaced again last Friday about 50 miles east of Nantucket, Massachusetts, between Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank. His beacon has not pinged since. Known as "Contender," researchers say the largest male white shark they ever tagged in the western Atlantic recently pinged off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Known as "Contender," researchers say the largest male white shark they ever tagged in the western Atlantic recently pinged off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. OCEARCH "Contender's second ping on July 18 shows that he's now about 62 miles east of Nantucket Island," OCEARCH data scientist John Tyminski told Newsweek in a statement Thursday. "This movement north is typical for white sharks at this time of year — they're on their northern migration to their summer-fall foraging areas." Western North Atlantic white sharks predominantly utilize two relatively broad regions during summer and fall months, Cape Cod and Atlantic Canada, he said. "Both of these areas have healthy populations of seals which can be a rich food source especially for larger white sharks like Contender," Tyminski explained, although white sharks will also opportunistically feed on various types of fish, squid and other marine mammals. The shark, named in honor of longtime OCEARCH partner Contender Boats, had previously pinged just 22 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, researchers said in early June. Prior to last week's ping, the massive great white has been spotted off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in early June, researchers said. Prior to last week's ping, the massive great white has been spotted off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in early June, researchers said. OCEARCH "The Outer Banks is a common rest stop for these white sharks," an OCEARCH staffer wrote on Instagram. "And Contender appears to be doing just that — taking a rest. This may be due to rich food resources in this region, and it would serve as a time to feed and prepare before what may be a long journey of 1,000 miles or more up to Canada." A ping is emitted when tags attached to dorsal fins rise above the surface, transmitting real-time location data to researchers. OCEARCH has tagged 446 animals to date, according to the group's website. Visitors can track Contender and other ocean predators on OCEARCH's global shark tracker. Adult male great white sharks in the western Atlantic like Contender typically range between 11 and 13 feet, researchers said. Adult male great white sharks in the western Atlantic like Contender typically range between 11 and 13 feet, researchers said. OCEARCH "The SPOT tag deployed on Contender will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years, helping us track his movements and understand his migration patterns," according to OCEARCH's page that monitors the shark. "Additionally, we've collected important biological samples, including urogenital material, which are currently being analyzed." While Contender represents the largest Atlantic male white shark ever to be tagged by OCEARCH, a 17-foot-2-inch female white shark named Nukumi retains the title as the largest specimen OCEARCH has ever tagged and released, Tyminski told Newsweek. Nukumi, named after a Native American mythological figure, was first tagged off Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, in October 2020 and weighed 3,541 pounds. Her last ping was transmitted in 2021, data shows. White sharks have an estimated maximum size of about 20 feet, with unconfirmed reports of some reaching up to 23 feet in length, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. "The white shark has been credited with more fatal attacks on humans than any other species of shark," the museum's website reads. "This is due primarily to its size, power and feeding behavior."
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
US Birth Rate Plunges to New Low — CDC
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States' total fertility rate fell to a record low in 2024, dipping below 1.6 children per woman, according to new federal data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This marks a significant demographic milestone for a country that once stood apart among developed nations for maintaining a replacement-level birth rate of around 2.1 children per woman. The U.S. fertility rate, once buoyed by post-World War II baby booms and comparatively high birth rates among younger women, has been steadily declining for nearly two decades. Many women are delaying motherhood or opting out of having children altogether — a trend now bringing American fertility rates closer to those of Western Europe. World Bank data confirms this alignment with long-standing European demographic patterns. The toes of a baby are seen at a hospital in McAllen, Texas, on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. The toes of a baby are seen at a hospital in McAllen, Texas, on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. Associated Press Despite concern in some political circles, experts suggest the falling birth rate reflects broader cultural and economic shifts, rather than an imminent population crisis. "We're seeing this as part of an ongoing process of fertility delay," said Leslie Root, a fertility and population policy researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder. "We know that the U.S. population is still growing, and we still have a natural increase — more births than deaths." Nevertheless, declining fertility has captured the attention of policymakers. In response to the trend, the Trump administration has advocated for several pro-natal measures, including an executive order aimed at expanding access to and reducing the cost of in vitro fertilization. The administration has also floated the idea of "baby bonuses" to incentivize family growth. But critics argue that these proposals are unlikely to reverse the trend without addressing deeper structural issues. Karen Guzzo, director of the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina, said many young people are simply not ready to start families due to financial uncertainty, lack of support systems, and late marriages. "Worry is not a good moment to have kids," she explained. "And that's why birth rates in most age groups are not improving." Asked about the administration's initiatives, Guzzo was skeptical: "The things that they are doing are really symbolic and not likely to budge things for real Americans." She emphasized that lasting change would require more comprehensive policies, such as paid parental leave and affordable child care. The CDC's updated figures for 2024 show that the total fertility rate dropped from 1.621 in 2023 to 1.599. That statistic is derived from a more detailed analysis of birth certificates and replaced earlier provisional estimates. Interestingly, the new report also shows a 1% increase in overall births — roughly 33,000 more babies — compared to 2023, bringing the total to just over 3.6 million. However, this does not reflect a higher birth rate. The CDC clarified that the discrepancy stemmed from recalculated population estimates, which now account for an increase in women of childbearing age due to immigration. "That's plausible," Root said. "As the total population of women of childbearing age grew due to immigration, it offset small increases in births to women in those age groups." Ultimately, both experts agree the U.S. faces a complex demographic shift shaped by economics, policy, and evolving personal choices. This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Treatments From Llama's Brains Can Help People With Schizophrenia
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Antibodies from llamas could be used to create a new generation of schizophrenia treatments that can effectively target the brain, rather than just reducing symptoms. This is the promise of a study led by scientists at the Institute of Functional Genomics in Montpellier, France, who have designed a new "nanobody", made from llama antibody fragments, that can activate a receptor involved in regulating neural activity. The new molecule can be injected into veins or muscles and has demonstrated its ability to cross the protective 'blood–brain barrier' and effectively reach receptors in brain cells. This makes the new nanobody more effective than the antibodies currently used in schizophrenia treatments, according to the researchers. It is also biodegradable and associated with limited side effects. "There is an urgent need for efficient and innovative therapies to treat brain disorders such as psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases," the study authors wrote. "Immunotherapies have proved to be efficient in many medical areas, but have not been considered to treat brain diseases due to the poor brain penetration of immunoglobulins." (Immunoglobulins are antibodies critical to the body's immune response.) Although current treatments for schizophrenia—usually a combination of personalized talking therapies and medicines—can provide support and more day-to-day independence, the researchers say that they have little effect on the cognitive deficits impacting those living with the condition. Affecting around one percent of Americans, schizophrenia can cause a range of different psychological symptoms related to thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness, and social interactions. People may have so-called episodes, during which their symptoms are more severe, followed by periods when they experience few or no symptoms. A smiling fluffy llama face staring into the camera. A smiling fluffy llama face staring into the camera. Display/Getty Images "Patients have strong difficulties concentrating, leading to many cognitive problems," paper author and CNRS molecular biologist Jean-Philippe Pin told Newsweek. According to Pin, medications currently given to patients with schizophrenia "treat the symptoms well, but less the cognitive deficits." Some 'antipsychotics' currently used can also cause side effects in some people. In the new study, the therapeutic effect of the nanobodies was evaluated in two animal models of schizophrenia. The treatment was seen to correct cognitive defects and improve the animal's brain function from the first injection—with the beneficial effect lasting for at least one week. Pin explains that no llamas were harmed in the study—in fact, he added, "nowadays one can identify nanobodies from synthetic libraries generated in vitro, based on llama nanobody sequences. No need for the llama any more, and faster!" It is not clear at present whether this new llama-derived therapy is effective enough to stand alone, but early signs appear promising. "In humans obviously we don't know [yet], but in mice yes, it is sufficient to treat most deficits of schizophrenia," said Pin. However, as schizophrenia is a chronic condition, any such human-approved treatment would need to be taken for life. A graphic illustration representing colourful nanobodies targeting a protein found in the COVID-19 virus. A graphic illustration representing colourful nanobodies targeting a protein found in the COVID-19 virus. selvanegra/Getty Images Further clinical studies are now required to demonstrate that the nanobodies' ability to correct cognitive deficits could be safely and effectively applied to humans. "For development as a therapeutic tool, more safety and bioavailability studies are needed. Production of large quantities of high quality must be set up to start human studies. For these two possibilities, either a company takes up our project or we find investors to create a startup company," Pin explained. For now, the research confirms the potential of the nanobodies as a new therapeutic strategy acting on the brain, with scope for their use to eventually include the treatment of other neurological illnesses too. "Our results establish a proof of concept that nanobodies can target brain receptors, and pave the way for nanobody-based therapeutic strategies for the treatment of brain disorders," the researchers wrote. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about schizophrenia? Let us know via health@ Reference Oosterlaken, M., Rogliardo, A., Lipina, T., Lafon, P.-A., Tsitokana, M. E., Keck, M., Cahuzac, H., Prieu-Sérandon, P., Diem, S., Derieux, C., Camberlin, C., Lafont, C., Meyer, D., Chames, P., Vandermoere, F., Marin, P., Prézeau, L., Servent, D., Salahpour, A., ... Rondard, P. (2025). Nanobody therapy rescues behavioural deficits of NMDA receptor hypofunction. Nature.
