Cinnamon Supplements May Reduce Effectiveness of Medications, Study Finds

Cinnamon is a beloved spice in kitchens around the world—but in supplement form, it may alter how quickly drugs are metabolized.

Stas Walenga/Shutterstock

That sprinkle of cinnamon in your coffee or oatmeal? Probably harmless. But taken as a supplement, it could change how your body processes prescription drugs, new research suggests.

Cinnamaldehyde, the compound behind cinnamon’s signature flavor and scent, can interfere with how the body processes medications. The recent study on human liver and gut cells found that at high concentrations, the compound may speed up drug metabolism, clearing medications before they can take full effect.