Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk
Journal of Eexercise & Organ Cross Talk

Synergistic effects of cinnamon supplementation and Tabata HIIT on metabolic health and performance outcomes in military cadets: Bridging traditional medicine and modern physiology

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Reza Sabzevari Rad
Marefat Siahkouhian

Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22122/jeoct.2025.556612.1177
Abstract
The integration of herbal supplementation with exercise training may offer a novel hybrid strategy that bridges traditional medicine and modern performance science to enhance recovery and physical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of cinnamon supplementation and Tabata-style high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on metabolic and performance outcomes in young male military cadets. Forty-eight healthy cadets were randomly assigned to four groups: Tabata training (T), cinnamon supplementation (S), Tabata + cinnamon (TS), and control (C). The intervention lasted six weeks, consisting of thrice-weekly Tabata sessions (87–100% HRmax) and daily oral cinnamon supplementation (1.5 g/day). Assessments conducted before and after the intervention included body composition, VO₂max, post-exercise blood lactate levels, and combat readiness scores based on the Army Combat Fitness Test. Statistical analysis employed paired t-tests and ANCOVA at a significance level of p < 0.05. Significant improvements were observed in the TS group compared to control: VO2max increased (p = 0.001), post-exercise lactate decreased (−1.93 mmol/L, p = 0.001), and combat readiness scores improved substantially (+63.6 points, p = 0.001). Comparable but less pronounced improvements were observed in the Tabata-only and cinnamon-only groups. No adverse effects were reported. The findings suggest that cinnamon—a time-honored medicinal spice—may potentiate the effects of high-intensity training by improving aerobic capacity, lactate clearance, and combat readiness. This study provides translational evidence supporting cinnamon as a safe, natural, and affordable traditional functional food that can enhance physical performance and metabolic resilience in tactical populations. The integration of traditional herbal supplementation with modern training paradigms offers a promising avenue in the evolving field of evidence-based traditional medicine.

What is already known on this subject?

• Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) is a traditional medicinal spice with well-documented, antioxidant ,anti-inflammatory, and insulin-sensitizing properties.

• Previous studies have demonstrated the metabolic benefits of cinnamon supplementation, including improved oxidative stress markers, glucose regulation, lipid profiles, and in both healthy and clinical populations.

• High-intensity interval training (HIIT), particularly the Tabata protocol, is an time-effective and efficient method to enhance aerobic and anaerobic performance, especially in tactical and military populations.

• Military cadets, often face high physical and psychological demands that can lead to inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired recovery.

• Despite the individual benefits of cinnamon and HIIT, their combined effects on combat readiness, physical performance, and metabolic health have not been thoroughly investigated in military settings.

 

What this study adds?

• This is the first randomized controlled trial to investigate the combined effects of cinnamon supplementation and Tabata-style high-intensity interval training on performance and metabolic outcomes in tactical cadets.  

• The study demonstrates that cinnamon supplementation significantly boosts the physiological benefits of HIIT, including greater improvements in reduced post-exercise blood lactate levels, VO₂max, and superior gains in combat readiness scores.  

• Findings support the integration of traditional herbal medicine with modern exercise protocols as a safe, feasible, and culturally appropriate strategy to optimize recovery and physical performance in military populations.  

• The results provide translational evidence for cinnamon as a functional ergogenic aid that may improve lactate clearance, resilience, and energy metabolism, under high-intensity physical stress.  

• This study introduces a scalable intervention, novel, and low-cost with potential applications in military training, sports performance, and occupational health settings.

 

Keywords

Cinnamon supplementation
Traditional medicine
Functional nutrition
High-intensity interval training
Tabata protocol

Subjects

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the participant for their time and effort during the tests.

Funding

This work is based upon research funded by Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) under project No.4027513.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in the present research.

Ethical approval This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Branch, on 3 March 2025 (Approval Code: IR.IAU.ARDABIL.REC.1403.229). All procedures involving human participants were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments.

Informed consent All participants were fully informed about the study objectives, procedures, potential risks, and benefits. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to enrollment, and participants were informed that they could withdraw at any stage without penalty. The authors affirm that participants gave informed consent for the publication of anonymized data derived from this study. No personally identifiable information is included in this manuscript. 

Author contributions 

Conceptualization: R.S.R., M.S.K., Methodology: R.S.R., M.S.K., Software: R.S.R., M.S.K., Validation: R.S.R., M.S.K.,; Formal analysis: R.S.R., M.S.K.,; Investigation: R.S.R., M.S.K.,; Resources: R.S.R., M.S.K.,; Data curation: R.S.R., M.S.K.,; Writing - original draft: R.S.R., M.S.K.,; Writing–review & editing R.S.R., M.S.K.,; Visualization: R.S.R., M.S.K.,; Supervision: R.S.R.; Project administration: M.S.K.,.; Funding acquisition: R.S.R.    

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Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk
Volume 5, Issue 4
Autumn 2025
Pages 168-179

  • Receive Date 31 October 2025
  • Revise Date 15 November 2025
  • Accept Date 20 November 2025

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