Does aloe vera affect blood pressure?

There’s evidence that about 5% of hypertensive Nigerians use aloe vera to lower blood pressure.

Researchers at the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, California, studied the effects of oral aloe vera on blood pressure measurements.

First, the details.

• 16 healthy young adults were assigned to 1 treatment on day 1 of the study and the other treatment on day 8.
  • 1200 mg of oral aloe vera powder
  • Matching placebo
• Electrocardiographic variables, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were measure before and 1, 3, 5, and 8 hours after treatment.
• Neither the patients nor researchers knew the treatment given — double blind.

And, the results.

• No significant differences in electrocardiographic or blood pressure measurements were observed.

The bottom line?

The authors concluded, “A single dose of oral aloe vera had no effect on electrocardiographic or blood pressure measurements in young healthy volunteers.”

Regarding the Nigerians, a PubMed search of aloe vera revealed no studies of blood pressure or electrocardiographic effects of aloe vera.

12/9/10 20:58 JR