Safety of Aloe Vera Supplements
Hello all ~ I am seeking some in put concerning Aloe Vera Supplements.
I was diagnosed in 2018 with Stage 1 ER/PR positive breast cancer. It was discovered early to which I am incredibly grateful. I had a lumpectomy and four weeks of radiation therapy, followed by four years of estrogen blockers.
I also have interstitial cystitis and have managed it well for many years. I had three UTI's over a 4 month period so was looking into supplements for bladder support. The Interstitial Cystitis Association recommends Desert Harvest Aloe Vera Supplements. I purchased them and then thought I'd better do a little research.
"Aloe vera contains phytoestrogens, plant-derived compounds structurally similar to estrogen, according to Endocrine Abstracts. While some sources suggest potential benefits for menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular health, excessive intake could potentially increase estrogenic effects by binding to estrogen receptors, which is a concern in hormone-positive breast cancer where therapies aim to reduce estrogen activity."
I contacted Desert Harvest and this was their response. I also contacted my oncologist who offered no support or advice either way — a little frustrating. From Desert Harvest:
"Thank you for following up, and I completely understand how frustrating it can be not to receive clear guidance—especially when you're trying to make the best decision for your health.
At this time, we do not have an exact quantified level of phytoestrogenic activity in our Aloe Vera supplement. What we can share is that aloe vera's phytoestrogenic content is considered extremely minimal, and there is little to no clinical evidence suggesting that such a low level has any measurable effect on hormone-sensitive conditions.
That said, we always encourage our customers—especially those with a history of hormone receptor–positive conditions—to make informed choices in collaboration with their healthcare team.
Any thoughts/feedback/knowledge is appreciated.
Comments
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MSKCC (Memorial Sloan-Kettering) has a website where you can look up various herbs to find out if they interact with any cancer meds (especially AIs) and are contraindicated for those with certain forms of cancer. That's how I found out to avoid grapefruit with letrozole, and that valerian root is contraindicated for ER+ breast cancer. FWIW, I was encouraged to use topical aloe vera during radiation to soothe any irritation.
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Thank you so very much!! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.
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