As an expectant mother, you want to make sure everything you consume is safe for your developing baby. So you may be wondering: can cinnamon cause a miscarriage early in pregnancy? This is an important question many mothers-to-be have. I’ll walk through what the research says about cinnamon and pregnancy safety, discuss potential risks and benefits, and ultimately empower you to make an informed decision about the consumption of cinnamon during pregnancy.
There is no definitive evidence that cinnamon directly causes miscarriage or complications during pregnancy. Many pregnant women safely consume small amounts of cinnamon with no issues. However, very high doses may have toxic effects on the placenta. As with anything during pregnancy, moderation is key. Speak to your doctor about your cinnamon intake if you have any concerns.
As you’ll see, existing research on cinnamon and pregnancy is limited and inconclusive. So while risks seem small, make sure to consider your personal health history and use caution if consuming frequently or in large quantities. My goal herein is simply to educate, not provide medical advice. Now, let’s explore what the latest science says about cinnamon and its potential pregnancy impacts…
Is cinnamon safe during pregnancy? The Known Safety Risks
As a widely available spice, many pregnant women ingest some cinnamon from time to time without issue. But could regularly consuming larger amounts or taking concentrated cinnamon supplements increase miscarriage risk early on? Let’s break down what limited research exists.
First, it’s important to note that no major health organizations list cinnamon as known to be unsafe during pregnancy. Groups like the American Pregnancy Association and Organization of Teratology Information Specialists state that normal food amounts of cinnamon appear harmless for expectant mothers. However, they caution that research is lacking on supplementation or consuming excess quantities.
Miscarriage Risk Factors
Research on cinnamon’s ability to cause miscarriage is very limited at this time. However, a few concerning cases exist.
A few animal studies in mice and rats have reported higher rates of fetal resorption (a type of miscarriage) when the animals were given extremely high oral doses of cinnamon oil or extract during pregnancy. However, the very high amounts given do not translate to realistic human consumption levels.
Some early research in rats has linked very high levels of the compound coumarin, which is present in cinnamon, to increased embryo resorption. Cassia cinnamon, the most common type of cinnamon contains substantially higher levels of coumarin compared to Ceylon cinnamon. So, excess cassia consumption could theoretically raise coumarin exposure which may lead to miscarriage. However, coumarin levels in cinnamon are hugely variable and human evidence is lacking.
While the evidence is extremely limited, there could be theoretical risks with mega-doses of cinnamon supplements or extracts. However, regular culinary consumption levels appear to be safe based on available data. Those concerned can opt for Ceylon over Cassia cinnamon varieties. As always, moderating intake and discussing with a healthcare provider is advised.
Other Pregnancy Safety Considerations
Beyond miscarriage, could cinnamon impact pregnancy in other ways? Here are some key considerations:
Blood Sugar Control – Some research shows cinnamon may help regulate blood sugar. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can increase pregnancy complication risks. More data is needed, but this could be a theoretical cinnamon benefit. Always monitor levels with your doctor.
Allergic Reactions – Allergy likelihood may increase during pregnancy. Discontinue cinnamon if any reactions occur.
Blood Thinning – Cinnamon may have mild blood thinning effects. While impacts seem unlikely with food amounts, this could be dangerous in high doses.
Uterine Stimulation – Animal studies show cinnamon may stimulate uterine contractions. But human evidence doesn’t demonstrate this effect.
In the end, many common pregnancy discomforts like nausea or indigestion aren’t proven to be helped by cinnamon supplementation either.
Cinnamon and Miscarriage Risk
here’s what the latest research tells us:
- No major health groups list cinnamon as unsafe during pregnancy, though more studies are still needed. Moderately consuming cinnamon as an everyday spice appears fine based on available data.
- While unlikely in amounts used for cooking, abnormally high cinnamon intake may potentially have concerning impacts like miscarriage early on. Toxic cinnamon overdose is possible, though exceedingly rare.
- Pregnant women should use caution and consult their doctor about heavily supplementing with cinnamon oil or extracts. Concentrated sources seem to have a higher miscarriage risk if over-consumed.
- Cinnamon likely only induces miscarriage risk when used in extreme excess. But every pregnancy is unique – avoid cinnamon entirely if you have any related concerns.
Though unlikely to cause issues alone, cinnamon can interact with other herbs and medications. So make sure to run any supplements by your physician. Monitor yourself and your baby closely and report any unusual symptoms promptly.
Final Thoughts
In closing, the majority of pregnant women can feel reasonably safe using some cinnamon for flavoring foods or in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet. Limited evidence exists showing routine cinnamon intake significantly increases miscarriage risk by itself, though data is scarce.
Avoid ingesting highly concentrated sources, especially in the first trimester when miscarriage likelihood peaks – without oversight. Supplements, extracts, and essential oils deserve particular care.
As always, work closely with your doctor and report any unusual symptoms you may experience when making dietary changes. Every pregnancy progresses differently based on the individual. We still need much more rigorous research on cinnamon and human pregnancy impacts to make definitive safety judgments.
When in doubt, exercise reasonable caution. But in moderation, cinnamon can be part of an expectant mother’s balanced regimen. Hope this gives you the confidence to make the personal choice around cinnamon use that’s right for your unique pregnancy journey. Here’s to an amazing rest of your pregnancy as you get ready to welcome your little one into the world!
References
- Cinnamon. (2020).
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cinnamon - American Pregnancy Association. Signs of a Miscarriage (https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/pregnancy-loss/signs-of-miscarriage/). Accessed 7/19/2022.
