Aloe vera
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Summary of Aloe vera
Primary information, health benefits, side effects, usage, and other important details
Aloe vera is a herb traditionally used to ease digestion as a folk remedy, and to alleviate pain from burns when used topically. It has recently gained popularity as an anti-obesity agent.
Preliminary studies show benefit with aloe vera in controlling weight, but the mechanisms do not seem as potent as other anti-obesity supplements. Aloe vera is also a generally healthy compound, but has been implicated in multiple cases of liver problems (which are not too common, although resurgent) and has a lower toxicity threshold than other herbal supplements.
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The only human study on aloe vera used 300 mg twice daily. There is no evidence to suggest whether this is the best dose, but benefit was seen at this dosage.
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Human Effect Matrix
The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies (it excludes animal and in vitro studies) to tell you what effects aloe vera has on your body, and how strong these effects are.
| Grade | Level of Evidence [show legend] |
|---|---|
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Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials |
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Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled |
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Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies |
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Uncontrolled or observational studies only |
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Level of Evidence
?
The amount of high quality evidence. The more
evidence, the more we can trust the results.
|
Outcome |
Magnitude of effect
?
The direction and size of the supplement's impact on
each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.
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Consistency of research results
?
Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or
VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
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Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Minor
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Very High See 2 studies |
Appears to be more effective than control, but less effective than the reference drug of 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide
|
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Things to Note
Is a Form Of
Other Functions:
Primary Function:
Also Known As
Aloe Barbadensis
Caution Notice
Aloe at normal supplementation doses has been shown to cause liver problems in some people, possibly due to a genetic susceptibility. The symptoms are reversible if the supplement is stopped.
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