IASC Provides Information on NTP Study Targeted for Consumers

August 16, 2010 – The International Aloe Science Council (IASC) announced today the availability of a recently developed position paper on the National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) 2-year oral consumption study on an aloe vera ingredient. The position paper was developed in order to educate consumers, retailers, and the industry at-large on the potential issues that could arise upon the publication of the NTP study results, which are expected in or after 2011.

The NTP is an interagency program whose objective is to evaluate substances of possible public health concern by developing and applying tools of modern toxicology and molecular biology. Aloe vera was nominated along with several other substances for review by NTP in the late 1990s for analysis. In 2009, the IASC was informed of the high probability that the study results will conclude that there is clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in test animals. “With so much misinformation available, the IASC recognized the need for absolute clarification amongst consumers, retailers and the industry in general as to the ingredient used in the study vs. what is in consumer products,” said Devon Powell, IASC executive director.

The paper clearly defines the ingredient used in the NTP study (aloe vera whole leaf extract native), a sample of which the IASC analyzed and is now known to be an unfiltered aloe vera. The paper further outlines and describes the difference between that ingredient and the aloe vera available in consumer products.

“We want to be sure that consumers, retailers, and the general population know and understand that what the NTP fed to test animals is not the ingredient being used, sold and consumed in the vast majority of products available in the marketplace,” said Powell.

The paper is available on the IASC website and can be downloaded HERE.

For more information contact:

Devon Powell
Executive Director, IASC
dpowell@iasc.org
Phone: 301.588.2420 x102
Cell: 240.398.8018
8630 Fenton St., Ste. 918 | Silver Spring, MD | 20910