Efficacy of aloe vera supplementation on prediabetes and early non-treated diabetic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Nutrients

Volume 8, Issue 7, July 2016, Article number 388

Open Access

Zhang, Y.^a , 

Liu, W.^b , 

Liu, D.^a , 

Zhao, T.^a , 

Tian, H.^a 

 

^a  Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
^b  Phase I Clinical Research Unit, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate evidence for the efficacy of aloe vera on managing prediabetes and early non-treated diabetes mellitus. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials until 28 January 2016. A total of five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 415 participants were included. Compared with the controls, aloe vera supplementation significantly reduced the concentrations of fasting blood glucose (FBG) (p = 0.02; weighed mean difference [WMD]: −30.05 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −54.87 to −5.23 mg/dL), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (p < 0.00001; WMD: −0.41%; 95% CI: −0.55% to −0.27%), triglyceride (p = 0.0001), total cholesterol (TC) (p < 0.00001), and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (p < 0.00001). Aloe vera was superior to placebo in increasing serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (p = 0.04). Only one adverse event was reported. The evidence from RCTs showed that aloe vera might effectively reduce the levels of FBG, HbA1c, triglyceride, TC and LDL-C, and increase the levels of HDL-C on prediabetes and early non-treated diabetic patients. Limited evidence exists about the safety of aloe vera. Given the small number and poor quality of RCTs included in the meta-analysis, these results are inconclusive. A large-scale, well-designed RCT is needed to further address this issue. © 2016 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author keywords

Aloe vera; Meta-analysis; Prediabetes; Randomized controlled trials

ISSN: 20726643Source Type: Journal Original language: English

DOI: 10.3390/nu8070388Document Type: Article

Publisher: MDPI AG

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  Tian, H.; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China; email:hmtian999@126.com
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