synergistic effects of cinnamon supplementation and tabata hiit on metabolic health and performance outcomes in military cadets: bridging traditional medicine and modern physiology

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.