title: Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hypercholesterolemic effects of Aloe vera leaf gel in hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: Diabetes mellitus type 2 with dyslipidemia is a common disease. Previous studies suggest that aloe (Aloe vera L.) leaf gel may positively affect the blood glucose and lipid levels in dyslipidemic type 2 diabetic patients. Thus, in this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial with hyperlipidemic (hypercholesterolemic and/or hypertriglyceridemic) type 2 diabetic patients aged 40 to 60 years not using other anti-hyperlipidemic agents and resistant to daily intake of two 5 mg glyburide tablets and two 500 mg metformin tablets, the efficacy and safety of taking aloe gel (one 300 mg capsule every 12 hours for 2 months) combined with the aforementioned drugs in treatment of 30 patients were evaluated and compared with the placebo group (n = 30). The aloe gel lowered the fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, and LDL levels significantly (p = 0.036, p = 0.036, p = 0.006, and p = 0.004, respectively) without any significant effects on the other blood lipid levels and liver/kidney function tests (p > 0.05) compared with the placebo at the endpoint. No adverse effects were reported. The results suggest that aloe gel may be a safe anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hypercholesterolemic agent for hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Applied Medicine, Research Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran. skianbakht@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hasan Fallah
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Huseini
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kianbakht
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hajiaghaee
authors.forename: Fataneh Hashem
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Dabaghian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005905:Glyburide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008687:Metformin; D005905:Glyburide