There are more than 360 species of aloe, some tall and tree-like, while others grow low to the ground. Aloe vera is found in arid climates throughout Africa and India and has been naturalized in many parts of the world. Aloe's medicinal value has made it a valuable plant for healing a wide range of conditions. Scientific research has revealed evidence to support the use of aloe vera for some of its traditional uses, including for lowering cholesterol. Consult your doctor before using aloe vera to treat a medical condition.
Liver Enzymes
Researchers at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Madras, India reported that aloe vera decreased cholesterol levels in diabetic laboratory animals. Doses of 300 mg per kg body weight of aloe vera leaf gel for 21 days reduced fasting blood sugar levels and levels of liver enzymes -- a sign of liver stress when elevated. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels in blood, liver and kidneys also decreased to nearly normal levels with aloe vera supplementation. Researchers concluded significant potential for the use of aloe vera in the management of diabetes from this preliminary animal study, published in the March 2006 issue of the journal "Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology."
Dosage
The National Institutes of Health website MedlinePlus recommends 10 to 20 mL of aloe per day for 12 weeks to reduce total cholesterol by up to 15 percent. Aloe vera may reduce low density lipoprotein, LDL, the bad form of cholesterol by 18 percent and triglycerides by as much as 30 percent in some people with elevated cholesterol.
Triglycerides
A study conducted at the Department of Pharmacy, SahmYook University, Seoul, South Korea found that aloe vera decreased triglyceride levels. In the study on diabetic laboratory animals. In the study, published in the September 2009 issue of the journal "Phytomedicine," eight weeks of aloe vera supplementation restored blood glucose levels to normal and lowered triglyceride levels in blood and liver. The researchers concluded that oral aloe vera juice shows promise as a natural method for managing diabetes and elevated cholesterol.
Rapid Effects
Daily use of aloe vera along with a high fiber regimen for cholesterol reduction makes good sense, says Bill Coats, co-author of the book "Aloe Vera the New Millennium: The Future of Wellness in the 21st Century," citing a study that found aloe vera that effective at lowering triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels. In another study, Aloe vera decreased levels of very low density, VLDL, another bad form of cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and increased levels of high density lipoprotein, HDL, the good form of cholesterol, within 48 hours, a rate that exceeded that of a standard drug therapy.
References
- "Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology"; Beneficial Effects of Aloe Vera Leaf Gel Extract on Lipid Profile Status in Rats with Streptozotocin Diabetes; S. Rajasekaran, et al.; March 2006
- MedlinePlus: Aloe
- "Phytomedicine"; Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of Processed Aloe Vera Gel in a Mouse Model of Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus; K. Kim, et al.; September 2009
- "Aloe Vera the New Millennium: The Future of Wellness in the 21st Century"; Bill C. Coats, et al.; 2003
- "Aloe Vera Handbook"; H. Panda; 2001
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