Aloe Vera Gel and Aloe Juice Information

Side Effects and Cautions Use of topical aloe vera is not associated with significant side effects. A 2-year National Toxicology Program (NTP) study on oral consumption of non-decolorized whole leaf extract of aloe vera found clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in male and female rats, based on tumors of the large intestine. According to the NTP, from what is known right now there is nothing that would lead them to believe that these findings are not relevant to humans. However, more information, including how individuals use different types of aloe vera products, is needed to determine the potential risks to humans. Abdominal cramps and diarrhea have been reported with oral use of aloe vera. Diarrhea, caused by the laxative effect of oral aloe vera, can decrease the absorption of many drugs. People with diabetes who use glucose-lowering medication should be cautious if also taking aloe by mouth because preliminary studies suggest aloe may lower blood glucose levels. There have been a few case reports of acute hepatitis from aloe vera taken orally. However, the evidence is not definitive. Tell all your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care. For tips about talking with your health care providers about CAM, see NCCAM’s Time to Talk campaign. Search the scientific literature for potential herb-drug interactionsSources Aloe. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at www.naturaldatabase.com on May 4, 2009. Aloe (Aloe vera). Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed at www.naturalstandard.com on May 4, 2009. National Toxicology Program. Aloe Vera. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Web site. Accessed at www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/health/2011/aloevera/ntp-aloe-fact-sheet.pdf on April 5, 2011.For More Information Using Dietary Supplements Wisely NCCAM Clearinghouse The NCCAM Clearinghouse provides information on CAM and NCCAM, including publications and searches of Federal databases of scientific and medical literature. The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, or referrals to practitioners.Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226 TTY (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): 1-866-464-3615 Web site: nccam.nih.gov E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it PubMed® A service of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), PubMed® contains publication information and (in most cases) brief summaries of articles from scientific and medical journals. CAM on PubMed®, developed jointly by NCCAM and NLM, is a subset of the PubMed® system and focuses on the topic of CAM.Web site: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez CAM on PubMed®: nccam.nih.gov/research/camonpubmed/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) To learn more about NIEHS’s National Toxicology Program technical report on a nondecolorized whole leaf extract aloe vera visit www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/health/2011/aloevera/.NIH Office of Dietary Supplements Web site: ods.od.nih.govNIH National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus Aloe Vera Listing: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/607.htmlThis publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged.NCCAM has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCAM. NCCAM Publication No. D333 Created December 2006 Updated April 2011