Aloe vera found to be more effective against diabetic complications than conventional medicine

In this study, Indian researchers investigated the effect of aloe vera treatment in rats with diabetic nephropathy. They reported their findings in an article published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements.

• Diabetes-induced hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress are implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
• Meanwhile, aloe vera (300 mg/kg), when taken orally, has been found to have renoprotective effects by many studies.
• To determine if the cholesterol-lowering and antioxidant properties of aloe vera can protect the kidneys from diabetic nephropathy, the researchers obtained whole leaf extracts of aloe vera.
• Using streptozotocin (STZ), they induced diabetes in rats and confirmed the development of diabetic nephropathy using biochemical and histological examinations.
• They also assessed the lipid profile and renal oxidative stress status of the diabetic rats.
• The researchers noted that STZ successfully induced diabetes in rats by triggering renal oxidative stress and altering their lipid profile.
• After eight weeks, STZ-induced diabetes caused nephropathy in rats by increasing serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, as well as promoting proteinuria and glomerular damage.
• On the other hand, aloe vera treatment (300 mg/kg/day orally) reversed the effects of STZ and was found to be more effective against diabetic nephropathy and renal oxidative stress than lisinopril, a known ACE inhibitor that was used as the reference drug.
• These results suggest that diabetes-induced oxidative stress and lipid alterations are involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that aloe vera can be used to prevent diabetes-induced nephropathy, thanks to its hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties.

Journal Reference:

Arora MK, Sarup Y, Tomar R, Singh M, Kumar P. AMELIORATION OF DIABETES-INDUCED DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY BYALOE VERA: IMPLICATION OF OXIDATIVE STRESS AND HYPERLIPIDEMIA. Journal of Dietary Supplements. 05 April 2018;16(2):227–244. DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2018.1449159