Nutrients 2016, 8(7), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8070388
Efficacy of Aloe Vera Supplementation on Prediabetes and Early Non-Treated Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
1
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
2
Phase I Clinical Research Unit, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 17 April 2016 / Revised: 9 June 2016 / Accepted: 16 June 2016 / Published: 23 June 2016
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet and Metabolic Dysfunction)
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. View Full-TextKeywords:
aloe vera; prediabetes; randomized controlled trials; meta-analysis
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Zhang, Y.; Liu, W.; Liu, D.; Zhao, T.; Tian, H. Efficacy of Aloe Vera Supplementation on Prediabetes and Early Non-Treated Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients 2016, 8, 388.
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