Metabolic effects of aloe vera gel complex in obese prediabetes and early non-treated diabetic patients: Randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Vol. 29; no. 9; pp. 1110 - 1114
• Main Authors: Choi, Ho-Chun, M.D, Kim, Seok-Joong, M.D, Son, Ki-Young, M.D, Oh, Bum-Jo, M.D., M.P.H, Cho, Be-Long, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-09-2013; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adult; Aged; Aloe - chemistry; Aloe vera; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - drug effects; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Mass Index; Body weight; Body Weight - drug effects; Cholesterol; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus - metabolism; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diet; Double-Blind Method; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Fasting; Fat; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Gels; Homeostasis - drug effects; Humans; Insulin - blood; Insulin Resistance; Intervention; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - metabolism; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Prediabetic State - drug therapy; Prediabetic State - metabolism; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Weight; Weight control; South Korea; Fat; Insulin resistance; Aloe vera; Weight; Endocrinopathy; Human; Obesity; Monocotyledones; Nutrition; Diabetes mellitus; Nutrition disorder; Metabolic diseases; Metabolism; Complexes; Target tissue resistance; Liliaceae; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2013.02.015

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). Conclusion In obese individuals with prediabetes or early untreated DM, Aloe QDM complex reduced body weight, BFM, and insulin resistance.