Diabetes mellitus type 2 with dyslipidemia is a
common disease. Previous studies suggest that
aloe (Aloe vera L.) leaf gel may positively affect
the blood glucose and lipid levels in dyslipidemic
type 2 diabetic patients. Thus, in this randomized
double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial
with hyperlipidemic (hypercholesterolemic and/
or hypertriglyceridemic) type 2 diabetic patients
aged 40 to 60 years not using other anti-hyperlipidemic
agents and resistant to daily intake of
two 5 mg glyburide tablets and two 500mg metformin
tablets, the efficacy and safety of taking
aloe gel (one 300 mg capsule every 12 hours for 2
months) combined with the aforementioned
drugs in treatment of 30 patients were evaluated
and compared with the placebo group (n = 30).
The aloe gel lowered the fasting blood glucose,
HbA1c, total cholesterol, and LDL levels significantly
(p = 0.036, p = 0.036, p = 0.006, and
p = 0.004, respectively) without any significant effects
on the other blood lipid levels and liver/kidney
function tests (p > 0.05) compared with the
placebo at the endpoint. No adverse effects were
reported. The results suggest that aloe gel may be
a safe anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hypercholesterolemic
agent for hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetic
patients.