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Natural Health News — Aloe vera may hold some benefit in improving glycaemic control in prediabetes and type-2 diabetes, according to a recent review.
Aloe vera has been a mainstay of traditional treatment for diabetes for a long time. It is used externally to heal sores and internally to balance blood sugar. A possible mode of action may be a reduced absorption of glucose in the GI tract after food consumption – although studies evaluating the effect of aloe vera on glycaemic control have reported inconsistent results.
» Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal plant.
» In people with diabetes supplementation is thought to help control glucose levels due to its ability to reduce the amount of glucose absorbed by the gut after eating.
» A new analysis of existing studies shows that aloe vera can have a significant beneficial effect but that this effect differs according to whether you have prediabetes to full blow type-2 diabetes.
In a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics the authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available evidence on the effect of aloe vera on glycaemic control in prediabetes – defined as impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance – and full-blown type-2 diabetes, which involves insulin resistance and defective beta cell function in secreting insulin.
Specifically the authors were looking for evidence of improved fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and/or improved haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Results of blood tests for HbA1C, or glycated haemoglobin test, gives a good indication of how well your diabetes is being controlled.
Different benefits for different degrees of diabetes
A literature search turned up 8 good quality trials involving 470 people. Aloe vera preparations in each trial varied and included raw crushed aloe leaves, freshly extracted aloe vera juice, aloe vera gel powder and aloe vera extract. Duration of treatment ranged from 2 to 3 months; most studies were conducted in Iran.
Analysis of the data indicated showed that prediabetes and diabetes responded differently to aloe vera supplementation.
In those with prediabetes, aloe vera significantly improved FPG in prediabetes but no effect on HbA1c was noted).
In type 2-diabetes, aloe vera showed significant improvement in HBA1c but only marginal improvement in FPG.
Indirect benefits too
In addition to helping glycaemic control the authors suggest that there may be indirect benefits to supplementation with aloe vera.
For instance the level of improvement in HbA1C found has been shown in other studies to reduce the risk by 21% for any illness or death related to diabetes, to reduce the risk of heart attack related to diabetes by 14% and the risk of microvascular complications (which can lead to nerve damage and loss of sight) by 37%.
“The current evidence suggests a possible effect of aloe vera on glycaemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes,” the researchers wrote.
Lead author, N. Suksomboon, PhD, from Mahidol University, in Bangkok, Thailand, suggested that larger studies should be done to confirm the findings.
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