Effect of Aloe vera Extract on Depression in People with Prediabetes

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by an increased level of blood glucose and impairments in the metabolic functions of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins (1).

There are more than 347 million people with diabetes across the world, which is expected to reach 366 million by 2030 (2).

Prediabetes state is a condition of abnormal blood glucose level between normal and diabetic states that involves impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). It is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers fasting blood glucose (FBG) equivalent to 100 - 125 mg/dL as the prediabetic state (3).

In addition to physical problems, it is known that some psychological disorders such as stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, and daily depression are associated with an increased risk of diabetes development (4, 5). Depression is on the list of risk factors suggested by the American Diabetes Association for the preliminary screening of diabetes (6). The association between depression and diabetes has been discussed for years. As two serious chronic diseases, they have negative impacts on the quality of life, disability, and life expectancy (7).

Chien et al. (8) concluded in their study that the incidence of diabetes in individuals suffering from at least one year of daily depression is greater than the general population.

On the other hand, some hormones, as well as cytokines and interleukins in diabetic patients, raise the incidence of depression (5). Diabetes, together with depression, can lead to worsened glycemic index control, delayed insulin therapy, lower self-confidence, lack of energy, sedentary lifestyle, reduced self-care behaviors, and even the incidence of dementia in patients with diabetes. Unfortunately, depression is usually left unnoticed in these people, and treatment is not initiated accordingly (9).

Depression can also result in psychological-biological changes such as lack of control of the autonomic nervous system, increased levels of cortisol, and increased inflammatory markers that can collectively deteriorate glycemic index management (4).

In the last decade, the use of complementary therapies has increased to relieve various health problems (10). Of all the complementary treatments, herbal medical therapy has played an effective role in promoting the quality of life for many years (11).

Aloe vera is the safest and most widely used plants in different cultures. Aloe vera (Aloe vera L., Liliaceae family) has applications in health products and has antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties (12). Some compounds of Aloe vera are effective in regulating mood such as vitamins, enzymes, minerals, Lignin, salicylic acid, and amino acids. Also, copper, iron, magnesium, arachidonic acid, Y-linolenic acid, steroids, mannose, glucose, L-rhamnose, aldopentose, vitamin A, B12, C, E, choline and folic acid, auxins, and gibberellins have been found in this plant (12, 13). Mood disorders such as depression can be caused by changes in neurotransmitters activity due to the impairment in brain neurons' activity. The Aloe vera plant has soothing and mood regulating properties (12).

No complications have been reported for Aloe vera consumption at different doses in the course of time (12, 14). In one study, the extract of this plant led to changes in neurotransmitter function and reduction in symptoms of depression in laboratory rats (15). Thus, the purpose of our research was to investigate the effects of pure extract powder of Aloe vera at two doses on depression in prediabetic patients.

This was a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial performed in the Research Center of Birjand University of Medical Sciences (BUMS). It was approved by the Ethics Committee of BUMS with the code number: IR.BUMS.REC.1394.451. Further, the trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with the number IRCT2013041112984N1. This study was performed among 72 volunteers meeting the inclusion criteria including age between 35 and 65 years, fasting blood sugar (FBS) between 100 and 125 mg/dL, triglyceride (TG) between 150 and 200 mg/dL, total cholesterol (CHOL-T) between 200 and 250 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) less than 35 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) between 130 and 160 mg/dl, body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 30 (3), not experienced any serious stress history during the past two months (such as the death of one family member, losing a job or anything that was very horrible and affected the person’s routine), no history of type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and other chronic diseases, not using anti-depression drugs, no pregnancy, no breastfeeding, not having hepatic, renal or gastrointestinal diseases according to medical examination, and not having elective surgery in the past two months. The exclusion criteria included a lack of willingness to continue participation, not using the capsules for more than one week, and pregnancy during the study.

None of the participants knew the contents of the capsules. To determine the sample size, we used the formula for comparing the difference between two means in independent groups (power calculation = 80% and confidence = 95%) based on Devaraj et al. (16) study results. According to purposive non-probability sampling, the block randomization method was used for the random allocation of the patients to the three groups (n = 24; Figure 1). The AL500 group consumed 500-mg capsules of Aloe vera (Barij Essence Company, Iran), the AL300 group received 300 mg capsules of Aloe vera and the placebo group received capsules containing microcrystalline cellulose powder. All the groups received two capsules per day, one after breakfast and one after dinner for eight weeks.

Figure 1.

Flowchart of the project procedure and attrition in the groups

To prepare the extract powder of Aloe vera in Barij Essence Company, at first, freshly harvested whole Aloe vera leaves were washed in a suitable bactericide (chlorhexidine). Then, 1 inch of the leaf base and 2 inches of the tapering point and sharp spines located along the leaf margins were removed by a knife. Then, the skin was carefully separated from the parenchyma. The filets were extensively washed with distilled water to remove the exudates from their surfaces, and the filets were ground to a liquid, and the pulp was removed by filtering. Afterwards, the pure extract of Aloe vera was extracted and then powdered.

The study objectives were explained to volunteers as clearly and simply as possible, and their informed consent was obtained. Then, a fasting blood sample (10 cc) was taken to confirm that the patient is a prediabetic. After taking a blood sample, the needle head was removed, and the blood was slowly transferred to a simple tube. This sample was kept at room temperature for 20 minutes and then centrifuged for 10 - 15 minutes to separate the serum. Serum variables were measured by a chemistry analyzer (Prestige 24i, Japan) using biochemical kits (ParsAzmoon, Iran) in the Central Laboratory of Imam Reza Hospital of Birjand.

Beck depression inventory was completed by the patients for calculating the depression mean scores before the study. Then, the package of the capsules with the timeline of how to use them was given to the participants.

The participants visited the Research Center to complete the questionnaire at the end of the eighth week of treatment. The researcher’s phone number was also given to the participants for probable queries. In addition, all the participants were reminded to take the pills and were emphasized not to use any other herbal medicines. Finally, they were requested not to have any change in their diet and routine activities during the study period.

The data were analyzed in SPSS (version 16), and the results are described as mean ± SD (standard deviation). A paired t-test was used to determine any significant difference between the groups, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test was run to determine inter-group differences. The significance level was set at P ≤ 0.05.

The demographics of the participants and the parameters investigated are presented in Table 1. Chi-square and ANOVA showed the homogeneity of the demographic characteristics. No adverse events were reported during the study period. The capsules were well-tolerated, and no complaints were reported about their taste or smell.

Table 2 shows a significant reduction in depression mean score only in the group receiving 500-mg capsules of Aloe vera (P = 0.034). Also, depression mean score changes showed a significant difference in depression mean score in the group receiving 500-mg capsules of Aloe vera) AL 500) compared with the two other groups (AL300 and placebo; P = 0.033).

In addition, results of the Tukey’s post-hoc test showed that depression mean score changes before and 60 days after intervention were different in the 300 and 500-mg Aloe vera groups (P = 0.046), that is, depression decreased more in the 500-mg group than the 300-mg group.

There are many psychological factors contributing to accelerating the progression of type 2 diabetes. Daily depression is the most important psychological factor involved in diabetes development (5). The results showed that only 500-mg Aloe vera capsules could significantly reduce the mean depression score 60 days after the intervention. But, the 300-mg Aloe vera capsule did not have a significant effect on improving the mean depression score. The reason for this finding could be that probably medicinal plants at lower doses may need a longer time to show their therapeutic effects. On the other hand, mood disorders such as depression require longer periods or higher doses of the drug to show signs of improvement (17). In fact, this is the first human study to investigate the effect of Aloe vera extract on depression. Previous studies have evaluated its effect on depression in laboratory animals. Salehi et al. investigated the antidepressant effects of Aloe vera extract compared to fluoxetine on rats. The rats were divided into five groups and given Aloe vera extract and fluoxetine for two weeks. The results showed that Aloe vera extract at different doses showed good and acceptable antidepressant effects (P < 0.001 (compared to fluoxetine (P = 0.1) (18).

Another study examined the effect of Aloe vera on memory and depression in laboratory rats. The rats were divided into two groups, one in the depressed group and the other in the group with reduced memory. The results showed that Aloe vera extract had no effects on memory improvement in rats but significantly reduced their depression (P < 0.05) (19).

The results of a cross-sectional study showed that men and women with symptoms of daily depression, albeit mild depression, present a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome. They also reported that women with daily depression have higher levels of fasting blood sugar than healthy women (20). The reason for the incidence of diabetes following daily depression is that the body of a depressed person secretes a large amount of cortisol, which can reduce insulin levels, leading to increased resistance against it. In general, mood disorders such as depression can be caused by changes in neurotransmitters’ activity arisen from impaired function of brain neurons (5). In fact, Aloe vera has soothing and mood-regulating properties (21). Thus, the present study investigated the impact of Aloe vera on depression. Further studies are required to clearly establish its role as an antidepressant. We had some limitations in control of some confounding variables such as finding the prediabetic patients and determining food intake, which could be considered for future researches.