Changes in Urinary Compositions among Children after Consuming Prepared Oral Doses of Aloe (Aloe vera Linn)
Sukachart Kirdpon MD*, Wichit Kirdpon PhD**, Wanchai Airarat MSc***, Kaewjai Thepsuthammarat MSc****, Somsong Nanakorn PhD*****
Affiliation : * Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen ** Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen *** Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen **** Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen ***** Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen
Objectives : 1) To investigate the amount of citrate and tartrate in aloe gel, and in the urine of healthy normal
children, before and after consuming fresh aloe gel. 2) To evaluate the changes in the chemical composition of
urine among subjects after taking aloe gel. 3) To determine the value of consuming aloe gel for prevention of
renal stone formation.
Design : Experimental study.
Materials and Methods : Thirteen healthy boys between 9 and 13 years of age were enrolled (with informed
permission) in the clinical trial. Subjects ingested 100 g of fresh prepared aloe gel twice a day for seven
consecutive days. The 24-hour urine was collected one day prior to taking the gel (Day 0), Days 2 and 5 of
consumption, and Day 8 (one day after completion). The authors determined the urine volume, osmolality,
potassium, sodium, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, uric acid, citrate, tartrate, oxalate, Permissible Incre-
ment in Calcium (PI Ca), Permissible Increment in Oxalate (PI Ox), Concentration Product Ratio of Calcium
Phosphate (CPR CaPO4) and the citrate per creatinine ratio.
Results : The citrate and tartrate concentration in 100 g of fresh aloe gel was 96.3 and 158.9 mg, respectively.
The 24-hr urine volume and urinary citrate excretion were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The PI Ca and
the PI Ox were also significantly increased (p < 0.05). The other measurements were unremarkable.
Conclusion : One hundred grams of fresh Aloe vera gel contains 96.3 milligrams of citrate and 158.9 milli-
grams of tartrate and were in the mid-range among Thai fruits. Changes in chemical compositions of urine
after aloe gel consumption shows potential for preventing kidney stone formation among children.
Keywords : Aloe vera, Children, Citrate, PI, Renal stone prevention
