Aloe Vera’s Beneficial Effects on Diabetes

 

by Matthew Constantin, PhD

Diabetes is on the rise in the western world. A disease caused by overeating and lack of physical activity, it goes hand in hand with obesity, which now afflicts some 300 million people worldwide. While obesity in the United States increased by 66% from 1990 to 1999, cases of diabetes also increased by 40%. The Center for Disease Control has stated that Americans are eating their way into a diabetes epidemic.

Although both diabetes and obesity are imminently treatable and preventable, most Americans seem unable to heed the recommendation made by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The organization advises weight loss as the primary method for lowering elevated blood glucose levels in persons who are overweight, obese or who have type 2 diabetes.

Fortunately for those unable to adhere to a reduced caloric diet, scientific reports have shown that preparations of Aloe Vera have beneficial effects on type 2 diabetes.

Aloe Vera: A Medicinal Succulent

Aloe Vera thrives in arid climates and is distributed widely throughout Africa and India. It is also commonly kept as an easily maintained and attractive houseplant throughout the civilized world. Although it is not certain how or when its medical properties were first discovered, Aloe Vera has long been used by natural medicine practitioners for its remarkable ability to heal cuts, abrasions and mild burns. The cosmetic industry has also used Aloe Vera for its soothing and moisturizing characteristics. The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder mentioned aloe in his book “Natural History” in 77 AD. This ancient natural remedy has now caught the attention of the modern medical industry.

Aloe Vera has been the subject of more than 400 scientific studies, many of which focused on its cosmetic properties and therapeutic effectiveness. Although some of the studies have reached contrary conclusions, the cumulative evidence supports the use of Aloe Vera for numerous medical conditions. These include treatment of genital herpes, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and heartburn, healing of first or second degree burns, accelerated healing of wounds, and lowered blood lipids in patients suffering from elevated serum lipid concentrations. Most importantly, perhaps, is Aloe Vera’s ability to improve fasting blood glucose levels in diabetics.

Aloe Vera’s Anti-Diabetic Effect Subjected to Scientific Study

The March 2009 edition of the peer-reviewed journal Phytomedicine featured a recent study that examined the effect of a processed form of Aloe Vera gel on the progression of the disease NIDDM – non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. NIDDM is the most common type of diabetes, manifesting itself in over 90% of all diabetes patients. In 2010, it is estimated that as many as 220 million people are affected by the disease.

The study used mice as the models, since their NIDDM closely resembles the human manifestation of the disease. For 21 weeks, the mice were fed a high-fat diet, resulting in a 30% increase in body weight. The mice were then randomly separated into two groups. One group was given oral doses of Aloe Vera for 8 weeks, while continuing to consume the high-fat diet. The control group also continued to eat the high-fat diet, but was not given any Aloe Vera.

Aloe Vera Reduces the Amount of Glucose, Insulin and Triglyceride in Diabetic Mice

Two weeks after administering Aloe Vera to the first group of mice, anti-hyperglycemic effects were apparent. Despite the continued consumption of a high-fat diet, fasting blood glucose levels in the test mice were reduced to normal. Following 8 weeks of treatment with Aloe Vera, liver and blood triglyceride levels showed a significant decrease, as did concentrations of plasma insulin.

Aloe Vera Decreases Fat Mass

During the initial 21-week administration of a high-fat diet, the mice showed an increase in fat mass, made evident by an expansion in size of adipocytes (fat storing cells). However, in spite of the continuation of the high-fat diet, the next 8 weeks of adding processed Aloe Vera to the diet resulted in a 30% decrease in adipocyte size, on average. These fat-storing cells were now comparable in size to those found in normal mice.

The study was the first to report anti-diabetic activity in the mouse model of diabetes that mimics human NIDDM. The authors of the study concluded that further studies would be necessary in order to identify the active ingredient responsible for the anti-diabetic effect shown by Aloe Vera.

Matthew Constantin is a biochemist specializing in obesity-related diseases. Matthew keeps up to date on new research in the weight loss and obesity field. Aloe Vera is emerging as an important weapon in the ongoing battle against obesity. Matthew evaluates the effectiveness of weight loss programs on his website, where he offers Medifast diet coupon codes, a savings coupon for Nutrisystem and a BistroMD promotion code three popular diets available in the United States.