A composition containing cinnamon extract reduces and/or eliminates one or more risk factors associated with Syndrome X. The composition also includes optionally one of more components selected from the group consisting of vitamins, cholesterol lowering agents, lipid lowering agents, and glucose lowering agent. Also described is a method of reducing and/or eliminating risk factors associated with Syndrome X in a subject through the administration of the cinnamon extract. The cinnamon extract supplement is administered orally, intravenously, or subcutaneously. In one embodiment, a daily dose of 10-1,000 mg of the cinnamon extract supplement is administered to the subject for a period of 6 weeks to 6 months.

A composition containing cinnamon extract reduces and/or eliminates one or more risk factors associated with Syndrome X. The composition also includes optionally one of more components selected from the group consisting of vitamins, cholesterol lowering agents, lipid lowering agents, and glucose lowering agent. Also described is a method of reducing and/or eliminating risk factors associated with Syndrome X in a subject through the administration of the cinnamon extract. The cinnamon extract supplement is administered orally, intravenously, or subcutaneously. In one embodiment, a daily dose of 10-1,000 mg of the cinnamon extract supplement is administered to the subject for a period of 6 weeks to 6 months.

A method is for stimulating the growth of bacteria of the Bacteroidetes phylum in the gut microbiota of a mammal. The method includes administering a yeast product as a prebiotic agent to the mammal. The yeast product comprises the walls of yeast cells, such as those of the genera Saccharomyces, Pichia, Candida, Kluyveromyces, Yarrowia and/or Wickehomomyces, or a fraction thereof.

A method is for stimulating the growth of bacteria of the Bacteroidetes phylum in the gut microbiota of a mammal. The method includes administering a yeast product as a prebiotic agent to the mammal. The yeast product comprises the walls of yeast cells, such as those of the genera Saccharomyces, Pichia, Candida, Kluyveromyces, Yarrowia and/or Wickehomomyces, or a fraction thereof.