by Jackie Hart, MD
Q: Where can I get more information on the study of aloe vera for the treatment of diabetes that you mentioned in your recent article on diabetes?
A: The information I discussed about aloe vera and diabetes comes from a review article in the October 1999 issue of the British Journal of General Practice, in which two British physicians reviewed existing research pertaining to the clinical use of aloe vera for several conditions, including diabetes.
They found two studies that had been published in the journal Phytomedicine in 1996. Participants in both studies were given either one tablespoon of aloe vera gel or a placebo for 42 days. The first study was conducted on 72 women with type 2 diabetes who took no medication. The second study was conducted on 72 women and men who took the same oral medication two times a day and in addition were given either oral aloe vera or placebo once a day. Blood sugars dropped significantly in those taking aloe vera in comparison to those who received the placebo in the first study, they dropped from an average of 250 mg/dl to an average of 141 mg/dl, which approaches normal.
The review in the British Journal of General Practice does not describe how often or when blood sugars were measured (e.g., what time(s) of day, for how long after the aloe vera administration ended, or whether the measurements were only made during the 42 days) in the trials published in Phytomedicine. The authors do note, however, that the study participants were not randomly assigned to receive either aloe vera or placebo, which means that the participants knew whether they were receiving aloe vera or the placebo. This aspect of the study design can influence the results, because participants who know what theyre getting can have certain expectations as a result of that knowledge, and these expectations of "success" or "failure" can profoundly affect the study results. Although the possible connection between aloe vera and improved blood sugar control is intriguing, it is too early to draw definitive conclusions about whether taking aloe vera for diabetes will make any difference.
A related question is whether it is safe to take aloe vera to control diabetes, even if we are not certain that it will help. Of the 10 aloe vera trials reviewed in the article in the British Journal of General Practice, only three people out of 600 had allergic reactions to topical aloe vera; no allergic reactions were reported in the 200 people receiving oral aloe vera. Earlier animal studies found that rats given very high doses of oral aloe vera developed diminished brain activity and long-term use led to anemia and sperm damage in the male rats. One physician had his medical license revoked for giving cancer patients injections of aloe vera, which were linked to the deaths of several of his patients.
The bottom line: I would not recommend taking aloe vera for diabetes until more information is available regarding both efficacy and safety.
Q: Where can I get more information on the study of aloe vera for the treatment of diabetes that you mentioned in your recent article on diabetes?
A: The information I discussed about aloe vera and diabetes comes from a review article in the October 1999 issue of the British Journal of General Practice, in which two British physicians reviewed existing research pertaining to the clinical use of aloe vera for several conditions, including diabetes.
They found two studies that had been published in the journal Phytomedicine in 1996. Participants in both studies were given either one tablespoon of aloe vera gel or a placebo for 42 days. The first study was conducted on 72 women with type 2 diabetes who took no medication. The second study was conducted on 72 women and men who took the same oral medication two times a day and in addition were given either oral aloe vera or placebo once a day. Blood sugars dropped significantly in those taking aloe vera in comparison to those who received the placebo in the first study, they dropped from an average of 250 mg/dl to an average of 141 mg/dl, which approaches normal.
The review in the British Journal of General Practice does not describe how often or when blood sugars were measured (e.g., what time(s) of day, for how long after the aloe vera administration ended, or whether the measurements were only made during the 42 days) in the trials published in Phytomedicine. The authors do note, however, that the study participants were not randomly assigned to receive either aloe vera or placebo, which means that the participants knew whether they were receiving aloe vera or the placebo. This aspect of the study design can influence the results, because participants who know what theyre getting can have certain expectations as a result of that knowledge, and these expectations of "success" or "failure" can profoundly affect the study results. Although the possible connection between aloe vera and improved blood sugar control is intriguing, it is too early to draw definitive conclusions about whether taking aloe vera for diabetes will make any difference.
A related question is whether it is safe to take aloe vera to control diabetes, even if we are not certain that it will help. Of the 10 aloe vera trials reviewed in the article in the British Journal of General Practice, only three people out of 600 had allergic reactions to topical aloe vera; no allergic reactions were reported in the 200 people receiving oral aloe vera. Earlier animal studies found that rats given very high doses of oral aloe vera developed diminished brain activity and long-term use led to anemia and sperm damage in the male rats. One physician had his medical license revoked for giving cancer patients injections of aloe vera, which were linked to the deaths of several of his patients.
The bottom line: I would not recommend taking aloe vera for diabetes until more information is available regarding both efficacy and safety.