FACT CHECK: Does drinking aloe vera juice balance your immune system?

CLAIM:

The viral reel claims that drinking aloe vera daily for 14 days can significantly improve health because of a compound called acemannan. It claims that acemannan boosts stem cell production by 400 per cent, improves liver and kidney function, balances the immune system, and can address the root cause of inflammatory conditions such as eczema.

FACT:

Available evidence suggests that acemannan and other compounds in aloe vera can influence immune cells and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory and animal studies. However, there is no robust clinical evidence that drinking aloe vera juice "balances" the immune system, boosts stem cell production, improves liver or kidney function, or treats the root cause of eczema in humans. Experts say these claims are not supported by well-designed human studies, and excessive consumption of aloe vera may also carry risks.

In a viral Instagram reel posted by Drew Canole, founder of Organifi and a wellness entrepreneur with 1.9 million followers on the platform, he claims that drinking aloe vera daily for 14 days can have profound effects on health due to a compound called acemannan, which he describes as the source of aloe's healing properties.

In the reel, Canole says that studies show acemannan can increase stem cell production by 400 per cent and improve liver and kidney function. He further claims that aloe vera "literally balances your immune system on an intercellular level."

Referring to a family member with eczema, Canole says he advised his cousin to start blending and drinking aloe vera. According to him, eczema is "not a skin problem" but an immune problem caused by inflammation. He claims that acemannan in aloe "literally calms that response from the inside out" and says that after she began consuming aloe smoothies, her skin flare-ups stopped and have not returned. "We didn't just treat the symptom, we fixed the root cause. Try it for 14 days, see what it does for you," he tells viewers.

The reel has garnered over 5.03 lakh views, 22,200 likes and around 17,000 shares on Instagram.

Does drinking aloe vera juice balance your immune system? 

Available evidence suggests that aloe vera and acemannan possess immunomodulatory properties and can influence immune cells under experimental conditions. However, there is currently no robust clinical evidence showing that drinking aloe vera juice "balances" the immune system in humans, as claimed in the viral reel.

A 2011 study investigating the effects of Aloe vera extracts on macrophages infected with Candida albicans found that certain aloe fractions increased the viability of these immune cells in laboratory experiments. The authors concluded that while Aloe vera appeared to have immunomodulatory effects, "further studies in animal models and human are necessary to clarify the modulatory effects of A. vera on macrophage function."

Subsequent reviews have echoed similar conclusions. A 2014 review of 50 studies on acemannan, one of the main polysaccharides found in Aloe vera, reported that the compound possesses anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and osteogenic properties and may exhibit antiviral and antitumour effects through activation of immune responses. However, the researchers stressed that "more clinical research needs to be undertaken to validate and explain the action of acemannan in healing" and that a more precise understanding of its biological activities is required.

Likewise, a 2015 review noted that Aloe vera and its derivatives can influence biochemical pathways and may play a role in immune function. Citing studies in mouse macrophage cells and animal models, the authors described increased cytokine production and enhanced immune responses. They also highlighted that Aloe vera contains small molecular-weight immunomodulators capable of preventing ultraviolet-B-induced immune suppression in the skin. However, much of the evidence reviewed came from experimental or animal studies rather than clinical trials in humans.

More recently, a 2019 review in Molecules summarised the extraction, structure and biological activities of acemannan. The authors noted that acemannan exhibits "immunoregulation, anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, wound healing and bone proliferation promotion" activities and has shown promise in in vitro, in vivo and some clinical studies. At the same time, they emphasised that "more efforts need to be done in this research area" and called for further human nutrition, clinical and epidemiological studies to better understand the mechanisms behind these effects.

A 2021 review published in Phytotherapy Research similarly found that acemannan fragments may enhance biological activity and, in experimental settings, stimulate macrophages and dendritic cells involved in immune responses. Nevertheless, the authors cautioned that "due to contradictory results in the literature, further research is required to provide scientific evidence to confirm or nullify these claims."

Even a recent 2026 review exploring the potential role of Aloe vera in sports nutrition described its immunomodulatory properties as "scientifically promising" but acknowledged that many of the reported benefits are supported primarily by in vitro and animal studies. The authors noted that "rigorous clinical trials are still needed to standardize dosing and clarify some mechanisms" and that the precise pathways through which Aloe vera influences human physiology remain incompletely understood.

What experts say

Ms Edwina Raj, Head of Services - Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, claims that drinking aloe vera for 14 days can "balance" the immune system or reduce inflammation are not supported by strong clinical evidence in humans. She explained that most of the research on acemannan and aloe vera comes from laboratory or animal studies rather than well-designed human trials.

"The term 'balancing the immune system' is not a scientific or medical term," she said. "It is often used loosely to refer to reducing excessive inflammation or supporting normal immune responses, but in medicine these effects are assessed using specific immune markers and clinical outcomes."

Raj noted that there is no accepted human evidence showing that acemannan increases stem cell production by 400 per cent or that drinking aloe vera significantly improves liver and kidney function in healthy individuals. While aloe vera may have mild digestive or soothing effects, she said it should not be viewed as a proven regenerative or detoxifying therapy.

She further cautioned that regular consumption, especially of products containing aloe latex compounds such as aloin, is not without risks. "Excessive intake can cause side effects including diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, electrolyte imbalance and low potassium levels. In rare cases, prolonged or high intake may also contribute to liver stress or worsen kidney problems," she said.

Addressing laboratory findings showing immunomodulatory effects of acemannan, Raj emphasised that these should be interpreted with caution. "Results observed in cells or animals do not automatically translate into benefits in humans," she said. "Before aloe vera juice can be recommended as a health intervention, we need robust evidence from randomised controlled trials, along with long-term safety and dosage data. Until then, it should be regarded as a supplement with uncertain effects rather than a proven medical treatment."

Meanwhile, Dr Shireen Furtado, Senior Consultant - Medical and Cosmetic Dermatology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, said the claim that eczema is "not a skin problem but an immune problem" is an oversimplification.

"Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition caused by a combination of factors, including genetic predisposition, a defective skin barrier, environmental triggers and immune dysregulation," she explained. "While the immune system plays an important role, it is only one part of the disease process."

According to Dr Furtado, treatment for eczema focuses on restoring the skin barrier, controlling inflammation and avoiding triggers. She added that there is currently no strong clinical evidence showing that drinking aloe vera can prevent or treat eczema flare-ups.

"Most of the available research involving aloe vera has looked at topical preparations, and even those findings are limited," she said. "Oral consumption has not demonstrated consistent benefits in controlled human studies, and therefore aloe vera is not considered a standard or evidence-based treatment for eczema."

This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS