title: Metabolic effects of aloe vera gel complex in obese prediabetes and early non-treated diabetic patients: randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The metabolic effects of an aloe vera gel complex (Aloe QDM complex) on people with prediabetes or early diabetes mellitus (DM) are unknown. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of Aloe QDM complex on body weight, body fat mass (BFM), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin, and Homeostasis Model of Assessment - Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) in obese individuals with prediabetes or early DM who were not on diabetes medications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 136) were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group and evaluated at baseline and at 4 and 8 wk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study lost six participants in the control group and eight in the intervention group. At 8 wk, body weight (P = 0.02) and BFM (P = 0.03) were significantly lower in the intervention group. At 4 wk, serum insulin level (P = 0.04) and HOMA-IR (P = 0.047) were lower in the intervention group; they also were lower at 8 wk but with borderline significance (P = 0.09; P = 0.08, respectively). At 8 wk, FBG tended to decrease in the intervention group (P = 0.02), but the between-group difference was not significant (P = 0.16).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In obese individuals with prediabetes or early untreated DM, Aloe QDM complex reduced body weight, BFM, and insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seok-Joong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki-Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Bum-Jo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Be-Long
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005782:Gels; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Aloe vera; Fat; Insulin resistance; Weight