From the Guidelines
Aloe vera should be discouraged in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness and potential for adverse effects. The most recent and highest quality study on the role of diet in IBS, published in 2022 in the journal Gastroenterology 1, provides guidance on dietary and lifestyle management for adults with IBS. According to this study, healthcare professionals should discourage the use of aloe vera in the treatment of IBS.
Instead, the study recommends a range of dietary and lifestyle advice, including:
- Having regular meals and taking time to eat
- Avoiding missing meals or leaving long gaps between eating
- Drinking at least 8 cups of fluid per day
- Restricting tea and coffee to 3 cups per day
- Reducing intake of alcohol and fizzy drinks
- Limiting high-fiber food and "resistant starch"
- Avoiding sorbitol for people with diarrhea
- Eating oats and linseeds for people with wind and bloating
The study also emphasizes the importance of assessing and adjusting fiber intake, and considering the use of probiotics or single food avoidance and exclusion diets for further dietary management. Overall, the evidence suggests that aloe vera is not a recommended treatment for IBS, and that other dietary and lifestyle approaches may be more effective in managing symptoms.
From the Research
Gastrointestinal Effects of Aloe Vera
- Aloe vera ingestion has been associated with several gastrointestinal effects, including diarrhea, hypokalemia, pseudomelanosis coli, and kidney failure 2.
- A study on the use of oral aloe vera gel for active ulcerative colitis found that it produced a clinical response more often than placebo and reduced histological disease activity 3.
- Aloe vera has also been used as a laxative, with a study finding that a preparation containing celandin, aloe vera, and psyllium was effective in treating constipation 4.
- However, aloe vera can also have adverse effects, such as phototoxicity and hypersensitive reactions 2.
- The exact mechanisms of aloe vera's gastrointestinal effects are not fully understood, but its active compounds, such as aloe-emodin, aloin, and acemannan, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties 5.
Comparison with Other Treatments
- A study comparing loperamide and psyllium fiber for the treatment of fecal incontinence found that both treatments were effective, but psyllium had fewer adverse effects 6.
- Aloe vera has been compared to other treatments for gastrointestinal conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, and has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life 3.
Potential Risks and Interactions
- Aloe vera can interact with other medications, such as diuretics, and can worsen certain medical conditions, such as kidney disease 2.
- The use of aloe vera as a dietary supplement is not regulated, and its safety and efficacy have not been fully established 2.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the gastrointestinal effects of aloe vera and its potential risks and interactions 5.