Interstitial CystitisEarly Phase 1NCT04734106
Safety and Efficacy of Aloe Vera in the Management of the Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis
A Early Phase 1 study testing Desert Harvest Aloe Vera Capsules in people with Interstitial Cystitis and Chronic Interstitial Cystitis, run by Wake Forest University Health Sciences at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of super-concentrated, freeze-dried aloe vera capsules for treatment of interstitial cystitis. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Interstitial Cystitis, Chronic Interstitial Cystitis, Bladder Pain Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Desert Harvest Aloe Vera Capsules
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 18 Feb 2025to Apr 2027
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Females or males, aged 18 years or older
- Females of childbearing potential must agree to use acceptable methods of birth control. Acceptable methods are oral and injectable preparations, double barrier, vasectomized partner, or abstinence.
- Participant must sign and date the informed consent.
- Participant must report a urinary frequency of at least 11 times per 24-hour day, on average over the previous four weeks.
- Participant must report a pain/discomfort score of 4 or greater on a 0-9 Likert scale.
- These reported urinary symptoms of frequency and pain/discomfort must have been present for at least the previous 24 weeks prior to the first baseline screening visit.
- Participants must report in the baseline voiding diary at least one voided volume greater than or equal to 75cc in a 24-hour period.
Who cannot join
- Known allergy or intolerance to aloe vera in any form as reported by the participant or derived from medical records.
- History of Bladder tumors (malignant or benign).
- Current active bladder or urethral calculus.
- History of urethral cancer within the previous five years.
- Any disease which, in the opinion of the investigator, may be unstable or have bearing on the outcome of the study, including severe debilitating concurrent medical conditions such as coronary artery disease, azotemia, moderate to severe hepatic insufficiency, etc.
- Previous treatment with Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide).
Show all 24Show fewer
- History of cyclophosphamide or chemical cystitis or tuberculosis or radiation cystitis.
- History of pelvic radiation treatment, bladder cancer or cancer in situ, or urethral cancer.
- History of any other neoplastic process currently requiring systemic, nonprophylactic treatment.
- History of urethral diverticulum.
- Inability to void spontaneously.
- Subjects with interstitial cystitis symptoms alleviated by current therapy regimen.
- Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.
- Previous enrollment in an aloe vera study.
- Previous use of Desert Harvest super-concentrated, freeze-dried aloe vera capsules.
- Any imminent change in residence that could compromise compliance.
- Unlikely to be compliant due to unmanaged medical or psychological problem, including dementia, aphasia, or other deficits of cognition or speech/language function that will interfere with the participant's ability to complete the study.
- Substance abuse or dependency problem within the past two years for which patient received no treatment.
- Male-Specific Exclusion Criteria:
- Males with a history of prostate cancer within the previous five years.
- Males with a prostatic infection within the previous three months.
- Female-Specific Exclusion Criteria:
- Females with a history of uterine, cervical, or vaginal cancer within the previous five years.
- Pregnant or lactating females.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Wake Forest Baptist Hospital
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157
Kaylee A Ferrara, BS, 336-713-1693, Kaylee.Ferrara@advocatehealth.org
Stephen Walker, PhD
About this study
Official title: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Establish the Safety and Efficacy of Super-Concentrated, Freeze-Dried Aloe Vera in the Management of the Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis
The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of super-concentrated, freeze-dried aloe vera capsules for treatment of interstitial cystitis.
Read the detailed description
After being informed about the study and potential risks, all participants who have provided written informed consent will be screened to determine eligibility for study entry. Participants who meet the eligibility requirements will be randomized in a double-blind manner (participant and investigator) in a 4:1 ratio to aloe vera (study group) or placebo (control group), respectively. The dosing regimen will be increased by 3 capsules every month for 3 months and then reduced by 2 capsules every week during the fourth month for both groups. Participants will remain in the study for sixteen weeks.
- Being tested
- Desert Harvest Aloe Vera Capsules, Placebo Capsules
- Keywords
- Interstitial Cystitis (IC), Bladder Pain Syndrome, Urinary urgency, Urinary frequency, Bladder pain, Nocturia, Urinary incontinence
- Medical subject headings
- Cystitis, Interstitial, Nocturia, Urinary Incontinence
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Desert Harvest Aloe Vera CapsulesDrug
Also called Desert Harvest Super-Concentrated, Freeze-Dried Aloe Vera
600 mg pure, freeze-dried aloe vera super-concentrate with a minimum of 200 mg glycosaminoglycan per capsule.
Placebo CapsulesOther
Also called Avicel
550mg of Avicel microcrystalline cellulose per two-piece, hard-shelled gelatin capsule.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Harvest Super-Concentrated, Freeze-Dried Aloe Vera Capsules | Experimental | Participants will self-administer Desert Harvest super-concentrated, freeze-dried aloe vera capsules orally over a sixteen week period. The dosing regimen includes administering 3 capsules twice daily for the first month, 3 capsules three times daily for the second month, and 4 capsules three times daily for the third month. During the fourth month, participants will administer 10 capsules per day the first week (4 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, and 4 in the evening), 8 capsules per day the second week (4 in the morning, 4 in the evening), 6 capsules per day the third week (3 in the morning, 3 in the evening), and 4 capsules per day the fourth week (2 in the morning, 2 in the evening). A participant must stay on a minimum of 6 capsules per day for the first three months in order to remain in the study. Receives: Drug: Desert Harvest Aloe Vera Capsules |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Participants will self-administer placebo capsules orally, matching the dosing regimen of the experimental treatment, over a sixteen week period. Placebo capsules will be identical in appearance and packaging to the experimental capsules. Receives: Other: Placebo Capsules |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Safety, as measured by the Change in the number and severity of adverse events (AE)
Non-serious adverse events will be defined as any new medical condition or worsening of an existing medical condition, not to include the disease being studied. Severe adverse events will be defined as any adverse event that results in death, a life-threatening event, inpatient hospitalization, prolongation of existing hospitalization (hospitalization for an elective treatment of a pre-existing condition will not be considered a serious event), disability or incapacity, or an important medical event, which, though not included previously, may jeopardize the participant and may require medical or surgical intervention.
Measured: Week 16
Secondary outcomes (5)
Change in Interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) symptoms, as measured by the O'Leary Sant Questionnaire
The O'Leary-Sant questionnaire is composed of the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI) and Problem Index (ICPI) which contains four questions related to urinary and pain symptoms. For the ICSI (score range: 0-19 points), 3 of the 4 questions utilize a range of 0-5 with 0 indicating the symptom is never experienced and 5 indicating the symptom is almost always experienced. The fourth question utilizes a range of 0-4 with 0 indicating the symptom is never experienced and 4 indicating the symptom is almost always experienced. For the ICPI (score range: 0-16 points), all four questions utilize a range of 0-4 with 0 indicating it is no problem and 4 indicating it is a big problem.
Measured: Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16
Change in Suprapubic Pain, as measured by the Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI) questionnaire
The GUPI questionnaire (score range: 0 - 45) contains nine overarching items related to urinary symptoms, pain, and impact on quality of life. Responses to items 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3 and 4 are used to create a pain subscale with scores ranging from 0 -23, 0 indicating no pain and 23 indicating pain as bad as you can imagine. Responses to items 5 and 6 are used to create a urinary subscale with scores ranging from 0 -10, 0 indicating urinary symptoms are never experienced and 10 indicating they are almost always experienced. Responses to items 7, 8, and 9 are used to create a quality of life impact subscale with scores ranging from 0 -12, 0 indicating no disturbance in quality of life and 10 indicating a large disturbance in quality of life. All subscales are summed to calculate a total score.
Measured: Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16
Change in Urinary Frequency, as measured by 24-Hour Voiding Diaries
Participants will be instructed on how to complete a 24-hour voiding diary during the initial screening visit. The participant will use a new diary sheet for every 24-hour period with sections identifying time of day (with wake time and bed time indicated by participant), fluid intake (type of fluid ingested and amount in oz), urination (amount in oz voided into urinary hat or urinal), amount of urine drained via catheter if applicable, leaks (any time a participant experienced involuntary urine loss indicated by a check mark in the corresponding time column) if applicable, and pad changes (every time pad was dry indicated by a D in the corresponding time column or with a "S" "M" or "L" if the pad was wet with urine indicating a small, moderate, or large amount in the corresponding time column) if applicable.
Measured: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 12
Change in Sexual Functioning and Satisfaction, as measured by the Male and Female Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sexual Function and Satisfaction Brief Profile
The Male and Female PROMIS Sexual Function and Satisfaction brief profile provides participants with questions related to their sexual functioning and satisfaction within the last 30 days. The male version of the questionnaire (score range: 0-50) consists of 10 items, while the female version (score range: 0-70) consists of 14 items. For both of the gender-specific versions, lower scores indicate lower interest, sexual satisfaction, and discomfort while higher scores indicate higher interest, sexual satisfaction, and discomfort.
Measured: Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16
Change in Perceived Quality of Life, as measured by the McGill Quality of Life questionnaire
The McGill Quality of Life (MQOL) is a self-reported measure that contains 16-items with a single-item global scale used to measure quality of life over a 2-day timeframe. Items are scored 1-10, with 0 indicating the lowest score (not a problem) and 10 indicating the highest score (tremendous problem), for five sub-scales (physical well-being, physical symptoms, psychological, existential, and support). An overall index score can be calculated by summing the means of the five sub-scales to measure overall quality of life.
Measured: Baseline and Week 16
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Feb 2021
- Study start18 Feb 2025
- Primary completionApr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionApr 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Interstitial CystitisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Wake Forest University Health SciencesThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Desert Harvest
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Stephen Walker, PhD, Principal investigator, Wake Forest Health Sciences
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04734106
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB00069987
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Jan 2021
- Last updated
- 28 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Establish the Safety and Efficacy of Super-Concentrated, Freeze-Dried Aloe Vera in the Management of the Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04734106
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB00069987
- Keywords
- Interstitial Cystitis (IC), Bladder Pain Syndrome, Urinary urgency, Urinary frequency, Bladder pain, Nocturia, Urinary incontinence
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Wake Forest University Health SciencesUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Desert Harvest
- Study start
- 18 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Apr 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Feb 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of super-concentrated, freeze-dried aloe vera capsules for treatment of interstitial cystitis.
Detailed description
After being informed about the study and potential risks, all participants who have provided written informed consent will be screened to determine eligibility for study entry. Participants who meet the eligibility requirements will be randomized in a double-blind manner (participant and investigator) in a 4:1 ratio to aloe vera (study group) or placebo (control group), respectively. The dosing regimen will be increased by 3 capsules every month for 3 months and then reduced by 2 capsules every week during the fourth month for both groups. Participants will remain in the study for sixteen weeks.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Harvest Super-Concentrated, Freeze-Dried Aloe Vera Capsules | Experimental | Drug: Desert Harvest Aloe Vera CapsulesParticipants will self-administer Desert Harvest super-concentrated, freeze-dried aloe vera capsules orally over a sixteen week period. The dosing regimen includes administering 3 capsules twice daily for the first month, 3 capsules three times daily for the second month, and 4 capsules three times daily for the third month. During the fourth month, participants will administer 10 capsules per day the first week (4 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, and 4 in the evening), 8 capsules per day the second week (4 in the morning, 4 in the evening), 6 capsules per day the third week (3 in the morning, 3 in the evening), and 4 capsules per day the fourth week (2 in the morning, 2 in the evening). A participant must stay on a minimum of 6 capsules per day for the first three months in order to remain in the study. |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Other: Placebo CapsulesParticipants will self-administer placebo capsules orally, matching the dosing regimen of the experimental treatment, over a sixteen week period. Placebo capsules will be identical in appearance and packaging to the experimental capsules. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Females or males, aged 18 years or older
- Females of childbearing potential must agree to use acceptable methods of birth control. Acceptable methods are oral and injectable preparations, double barrier, vasectomized partner, or abstinence.
- Participant must sign and date the informed consent.
- Participant must report a urinary frequency of at least 11 times per 24-hour day, on average over the previous four weeks.
- Participant must report a pain/discomfort score of 4 or greater on a 0-9 Likert scale.
Key exclusion criteria (24 listed)
- Known allergy or intolerance to aloe vera in any form as reported by the participant or derived from medical records.
- History of Bladder tumors (malignant or benign).
- Current active bladder or urethral calculus.
- History of urethral cancer within the previous five years.
- Any disease which, in the opinion of the investigator, may be unstable or have bearing on the outcome of the study, including severe debilitating concurrent medical conditions such as coronary artery disease, azotemia, moderate to severe hepatic insufficiency, etc.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Harvest Aloe Vera CapsulesAlso: Desert Harvest Super-Concentrated, Freeze-Dried Aloe Vera600 mg pure, freeze-dried aloe vera super-concentrate with a minimum of 200 mg glycosaminoglycan per capsule. | Drug | Desert Harvest Super-Concentrated, Freeze-Dried Aloe Vera Capsules |
| Placebo CapsulesAlso: Avicel550mg of Avicel microcrystalline cellulose per two-piece, hard-shelled gelatin capsule. | Other | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Safety, as measured by the Change in the number and severity of adverse events (AE)
Time frame: Week 16
Non-serious adverse events will be defined as any new medical condition or worsening of an existing medical condition, not to include the disease being studied. Severe adverse events will be defined as any adverse event that results in death, a life-threatening event, inpatient hospitalization, prolongation of existing hospitalization (hospitalization for an elective treatment of a pre-existing condition will not be considered a serious event), disability or incapacity, or an important medical event, which, though not included previously, may jeopardize the participant and may require medical or surgical intervention.
5 secondary outcomes
Change in Interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) symptoms, as measured by the O'Leary Sant Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16
Change in Suprapubic Pain, as measured by the Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI) questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16
Change in Urinary Frequency, as measured by 24-Hour Voiding Diaries
Time frame: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 12
Change in Sexual Functioning and Satisfaction, as measured by the Male and Female Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sexual Function and Satisfaction Brief Profile
Time frame: Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16
Change in Perceived Quality of Life, as measured by the McGill Quality of Life questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline and Week 16
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Stephen Walker, PhD principal investigator
Wake Forest Health Sciences
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Early Phase 1 study testing Desert Harvest Aloe Vera Capsules in people with Interstitial Cystitis and Chronic Interstitial Cystitis, run by Wake Forest University Health Sciences at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 24 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Early Phase 1 (sometimes called Phase 0) studies give a very small amount of a treatment to a few people, mainly to see how the body handles it.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Stephen Walker, PhD (3367137272, Stephen.J.Walker@advocatehealth.org), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Safety, as measured by the Change in the number and severity of adverse events (AE) (time frame: Week 16). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Jul 2026.