What are the potential effects of daily supplementation of capsules containing Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract on serum cholesterol levels in individuals with average serum LDL level between 100-190 mg/dL (100 mg/dL<LDL<190 mg/dL)?

• The study will be a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. It will be conducted at the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Sri Lanka for a period of 3 months, assessing the effects of the daily supplementation of capsules containing C. zeylanicum on individuals with average serum LDL level between 100-190 mg/dL (100 mg/dL<LDL<190 mg/dL)

• Eligible participants will be randomized to two different groups.

• The participants will be allocated to either cinnamon intervention or placebo group with an allocation ratio of 1:1 using random allocation sequence generated by the R software ‘blockrand’ package. The investigators and participants will remain blinded to treatment allocation until the outcomes are analysed.

• The intervention group will receive capsules containing 500mg of powdered ethanol extract (with minimum of 15% proanthocyanidins (PAC A) of cinnamon bark)). Each participant will be instructed to consume one capsule (500 mg) before breakfast and one capsule (500 mg) before dinner daily (1000 mg/daily) for 12 weeks.

• The control group will receive the placebo (Wheat flour -white colour tasteless odourless fine powder-1000 mg/daily). Each subject will be instructed to consume one capsules (500 mg) before breakfast and one capsule (500 mg) before dinner daily for 12 weeks.

• Age between 18-70 years
• Both male and female
• LDL level; between 100 and 190 mg/dL (100 mg/dL < LDL < 190mg/dL)

• Participants with an allergy to cinnamon • Already on cinnamon or any other nutritional / herbal / ayurvedic supplements. • Lactation, pregnancy or unwillingness to use an effective form of birth control for women of childbearing years • Any form of malignancy at present or in the past • Blood dyscrasias • Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) <30ml/min • Patients with diagnosed alcoholic liver disease (ALD), decompensated cirrhosis or abnormal baseline liver function tests (Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) - Above three times the upper limit of normal) • Patients with cardiac, liver, renal or respiratory failure • Patients with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) or any other major critical illnesses. - This may include any illness, which is certified by the investigator to be a serious illness. For example a. Chronic lung disease b. Severe psychiatric or mental illness c. Severe blood disorders • Any condition that, in the opinion of the primary investigator, would contraindicate the patient’s participation. • Currently on statins or any other lipid lowering drug or if investigator decides that the participant is in need of an immediate lipid lowering therapy (statin) based on clinical judgement. • Participant with triglycerides level >300 mg/dL