Potential Cholesterol-lowering and Antihypertensive Effects of Cinnamon Tea: A Single Case Study

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia is a chronic cardiovascular condition characterized by high levels of cholesterol in the  blood. Untreated hypercholesterolemia raises the risk of cardiovascular problems, necessitating effective treatment  approaches. This single-case study evaluates the efficacy of cinnamon tea for a 52-year-old married man with  high blood cholesterol (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-LDL. The patient  presented with a history of head pain, elevated blood pressure (160/100 mmHg), and elevated blood triglyceride levels  (232.6 mg/dL), diagnosed with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. The patient was advised to consume a regular  diet along with cinnamon tea for 2 months at the outpatient department of Sivaraj Naturopathy and Yoga Medical  College and Hospital, Salem. Post-intervention assessments showed favorable outcomes, with a 70% symptomatic  relief and a reduction in blood pressure from 160/100 mmHg to 140/90 mmHg. Notably, blood triglyceride levels  decreased from 232.6 mg/dL to 176.4 mg/dL within 2 months. No serious adverse events were recorded. This single case study reports the effectiveness of cinnamon tea in a patient with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. The  naturopathic diet with cinnamon tea demonstrated remarkable effects and changes in the recorded data. However,  further large-scale studies with improved designs are needed to validate these findings. Hypercholesterolemia, characterized by elevated levels of cholesterol  in the blood, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such  as atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.[1] High cholesterol can  be caused by factors such as unhealthy diet, obesity, lack of physical  activity, smoking, diabetes, and genetic predisposition.[2] Conventional  treatments for hypercholesterolemia include lipid-lowering  medications such as statins, fibrates, bile acid sequestrants, and lifestyle  modifications such as dietary changes and increased physical activity.[3] However, these treatments may have side effects or be ineffective in  some cases, prompting the need to explore complementary and  alternative therapies.