OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and safety of Aloe vera as an adjunct treatment to Metformin in lowering Fasting Blood Glucose levels in Diabetic patients.

DESIGN: Therapeutic Clinical Trial

STUDY SUBJECTS: Patients aged 40-65 years old taking Metformin 500mg twice a day with FBS of 126mg/dL to 250mg/dL with no other co-morbidities seen at Family Medicine - Quezon City General Hospital, Out Patient Department.

METHOD: Sixty (60) out of 93 study subjects were included after baseline determination of FBS and was assigned to either of the two groups after systematic random sampling method. Both groups had 30 subjects each and were given Aloe vera and placebo on the assigned group. Repeat FBS was determined after 2 weeks. Data gathered were analyzed using Epi info 6 SPSS ver 20 and STATA 11.0 Software.

RESULTS: Sixty (60) patients completed the study. The mean height in Group A (OHA+Aloe vera) was 161.53(+/- 7.651) and Group B 159.83 (+/- 8.465). The mean height in Group A was 60.70 (+/-11.996) and Group B 59.95 (+/-10.528). The mean BMI in Group was 23.21 (+/- 4.027) and in Group B 23.557 (+/-4.481). The mean age in Group A was 52.97 (+/-­5.720) and in Group B 57.63 (+/-4.287). The Gender had a p value of 0.796; occupation p value 0.067; and education p value 0.796. The comparison of mean change in FBS within groups had a p value of 0.001. The comparison of mean change in FBS between groups in pre-treatment, p value of 0.933; post treatment p value of 0.0104. The FBS % change in both groups had a p value of 0.001. The comparison of age-adjusted percent change in the FBS between the 2 groups had a p value of 0.001. There was one patient who experienced bloatedness on the third day of treatment in Group A.

CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the use of Aloe vera as an adjunct treatment to Metforms is effective and safe.

Human ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Metformin ; Aloe ; Plants, Medicinal