title: Efficacy of Aloe Vera Supplementation on Prediabetes and Early Non-Treated Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. tibby5211@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yiyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Phase I Clinical Research Unit, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. wenliu112@126.com.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. danliu565@sina.com.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. zty112356@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tieyun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. hmtian999@126.com.
authors.forename: Haoming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: aloe vera; meta-analysis; prediabetes; randomized controlled trials