BACKGROUND:

Ten (10) young women diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the Wesley Guild Hospital Ilesa, a unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria who did not meet the national criteria for the use of antiretroviral drugs were managed with 30-40 mL of aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) gruel daily.

METHODS:

Their CD4 counts, general improvement, and physical well-being (including weight gain) were monitored over a 1-year period. The findings were compared with those of 20 age- matched controls who were on antiretroviral drugs. One (1) patient who reacted badly to antiretroviral drug switched over to aloe vera.

RESULTS:

The average weight gain among those on aloe vera was 4.7 kg compared to 4.8 kg by those on antiretroviral drug (p=0.916). The average rise in CD4 count among them was 153.7 cells/μL compared to 238.85 cells/μL among the controls (p=0.087). There was no significant side effect(s) in either group except in the 1 patient who switched over from antiretroviral drugs to aloe vera gruel.

CONCLUSIONS:

These preliminary data suggest that consumption of aloe vera may be of help to HIV-infected individuals in the tropics, given its availability and inexpensiveness.