title: Improvement of glucose and lipid profile status with Aloe vera in pre-diabetic subjects: a randomized controlled-trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pre-diabetes is a disturbing trend in the population, who are at risk of developing type-two diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the effects use of Aloe vera in different doses on glucose and lipid profile in pre-diabetic subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a double blind randomized controlled trial (72 subjects) with pre-diabetes symptoms in 3 groups consumed capsules twice a day: Aloe vera 300 mg (AL300), 500 mg (AL500) and placebo (PL). Fasting blood glucose (FBS), HbA1C and lipid profile were evaluated in baseline, 4 or 8 weeks. On-way ANOVA, Friedman, Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis , Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests were used for within or between groups statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FBS level in group AL300, showed significantly decreased in fourth week after the intervention, compared to PL in the same time (p = 0.001). Also, HbA1C level in this group at the eighth week after the intervention (p = 0.042), had a significant decrease. The levels of Total cholesterol and LDL-C, only in the group AL500 (p < 0.001 and p = 0.01), was significantly reduced, along with HDL-C level improvement just after eight weeks (p = 0.004). Triglyceride level showed a significant decrease (p < 0.045) just after four weeks use of AL500.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Use of Aloe vera extract in pre-diabetic patients, could revert impaired blood glucose within four weeks, but after eight weeks could alleviate their abnormal lipid profile.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of nursing and midwifery, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Samaneh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alinejad-Mofrad
authors.affiliation: Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foadoddini
authors.affiliation: Faculty of nursing and midwifery, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Alireza
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Saadatjoo
authors.affiliation: Deputy of health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shayesteh
keywords: Aloe vera; Fast blood glucose; Herbal medicine; Lipid profile; Pre-diabetis