Safety of Drinking Aloe Vera Juice Daily

Increasing numbers of studies have proven significant antidiabetic activity of Aloe Vera.  A study conducted at the Mahidol University of Bangkok, Thailand and published in the journal of Phytomedicine in 1996, 72 patients with high fasting blood sugar and typical diabetic curve of glucose tolerance who had never been treated with hypoglycemic drugs were selected to participate in the study.  The placebo controlled double blind study was conducted to evaluate the effects of oral aloe vera supplementation on blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides.  The treatment group received 15 milliliters of aloe vera twice daily for 42 days.  Blood samples were taken weekly for measurement of fasting blood glucose levels and every two weeks for triglyceride and cholesterol analyses. Before the study the patients in the control and treatment groups showed no variances in blood markers.  After treatment with Aloe Vera the blood sugar in the treatment group had been reduced 43%, blood triglycerides were reduced by 44% and there was no change in cholesterol.  No change was seen in the control group that did not receive Aloe Vera, no adverse side effects were reported due to the consumption of the Aloe Vera and there was no difference in weight or appetite in the treatment group.

 A second study was conducted at the same institution with the treatment of Aloe Vera given to patients who were not responding to glibenclamide an antidiabetic medication used to lower blood sugar levels.  Results were a 48% reduction in blood sugar levels and a 52% reduction in triglycerides and no change in cholesterol. 

A study conducted by Agarwal had similar findings with supplementation of Aloe Vera.  In this study 5,000 patients with atheromatous heart disease were studied over a five year period.  Out of the 5,000 patients, 3,167 were diabetic, 2,572 had a history of smoking and 2,151 had evidence of hypertension.  Consumption of alcohol and tobacco was restricted and patients were instructed to take 100 grams of Aloe Vera and 20 grams of Husk of Isabgol for fiber, mixed with wheat four and prepared in bread to be consumed at lunch and dinner for a five year period of the study.  During the beginning stages of the study all patients continued to take their same medications that they were on prior to the study. Patients experienced positive improvements as early as the second week after receiving the treatment of Aloe Vera.  After three months patients began to see chest pain associated with heart disease disappear, as well as improvement in their electrocardiogram results even after treadmill tests.  None of the patients suffered fresh heart attacks during the study.  After three months the lipid profile of patients also improved.  Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels of 93% of the patients returned to normal and out of the 3,167 diabetic patients 94% of their blood sugar levels returned to normal.  Of the 2,990 diabetic patients responding to the treatment all the oral hyperglycemic medications had to be withdrawn by the end of two months treatment with Aloe Vera.  All patients that were taking beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics for hypertension and angina control had their medications reduced to half the dose that they were taking prior to the study.  Hypertension patients did not show improvement in blood pressure levels.  At the conclusion of the study all patients remained on diet control alone.  Argwall concluded that Aloe Vera had a definite role in the prevention and management of atherosclerotic heart disease and in controlling the blood sugar level in diabetic patients.