Is aloe vera juice safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about aloe vera juice during pregnancy?

1. Aloe in gel, latex, or whole leaf extract form, when taken by mouth, may be unsafe during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. 1
2. Oral aloe latex can cause abdominal pain, cramps, and diarrhea, and in 2002 the FDA required manufacturers to pull aloe latex out of over-the-counter laxative products for lack of safety data. 1
3. A herbal medicine review states that using aloe vera as a laxative during pregnancy may pose potential teratogenic and toxicological effects on the embryo and fetus. 2
4. Prolonged use of the latex is likely to be unsafe because of the risk of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, including potassium loss. 2
5. At least a dozen published cases link oral aloe preparations to clinically apparent liver injury, typically appearing 3 to 24 weeks after starting high oral doses. 3

Is aloe vera juice safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. The caution applies from the start. Aloe latex acts as a stimulant laxative, and a herbal medicine review flags possible effects on the embryo and fetus when it is used that way.
• Second trimester. There is no trimester where oral aloe becomes the better choice. Fiber, fluid, and bulk-forming agents are the options obstetric reviews actually put first.
• Third trimester. Prolonged use of aloe latex carries a risk of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which is a poor trade in late pregnancy when fluid demands are already high.