Stevia is a natural sweetener that is widely and safely consumed in many countries around the world. Its high-purity stevia leaf extract, is being used globally to reduce energy and added sugar content in foods and beverages.
The input and output of calories consumed by an average individual has become imbalanced due to various factors, one of them being excessive consumption of foods high in sugar and fats. The other contributing factor is the lack of physical activity leading to higher risks of obesity. In order to adopt a healthier attitude people are shifting their focus towards low-calorie products.
Traditionally, it has been used in the treatment of diabetes . Stevia extract has also been used widely for lowering blood glucose [1].
Stevia Rebaudiana
Stevia is derived from Stevia Rebaudiana, a South American plant,
and it has been used for centuries to sweeten beverages and make
tea in the plant's native Paraguay [2].
It is a wild herb which belongs to the Chrysanthemum family.
Stevia has a very low acute toxicity, and no allergic reactions to
it seem to exist [3].
Out of 11 major steviol glycosides in stevia Stevioside and Rebaudioside A are responsible for the sweet taste.
Stevia may give some people a bitter aftertaste due to presence of essential oils, tannins and flavonoids. Stevioside, the main sweet component in the leaves of this plant, is approximately 300 times sweeter tasting than sucrose.
Out of 11 major steviol glycosides in stevia Stevioside and Rebaudioside A are responsible for the sweet taste.
Stevia may give some people a bitter aftertaste due to presence of essential oils, tannins and flavonoids. Stevioside, the main sweet component in the leaves of this plant, is approximately 300 times sweeter tasting than sucrose.
Safe Dosage
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have only declared rebaudioside A as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) for use as a general purpose sweetener in foods and beverages, excluding meat and poultry. Stevia is generally considered safe to use worldwide.
The ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) is 4 mg/kg of body weight according to JECFA. (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives)
Benefits of Stevia
Multiple benefits have been observed of Stevia through research still it should be noted that any long term data on clinical outcomes with Stevia is lacking.
Dental Benefits
Dental Carries is a common problem that both, children and adults are susceptible to.
Stevia has the potential to inhibit the growth and reproduction of oral bacteria and other infectious organism. It has reported an improvement to bleeding gum problems.
In a study conducted for 6 months on 12-15 years old showed that Stevia as a mouthrinser was very effective in showing antiplaque and antigingivitis properties [4].
Zero Calories
High-purity stevia leaf extract is not metabolized, so it provides zero calories [5]. The steviol glycoside is composed of steviol backbone with glucose molecules on them, which vary according to different sweet compounds found in stevia. The bacteria in the colon hydrolyze steviol glycosides into steviol by snipping off their glucose units. Steviol backbone is metabolized by liver into steviol glucuronide which is excreted in the urine. Stevia cannot be broken down into its metabolites under normal gastric conditions.
According to a research it does not accumulate in the body, the energy from fermentation of glucose is so low that stevia is said to provide zero calories [6].
Effect on Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels
According to a research conducted, excessive high calorie food consumption and high glycemic food can increase glucose and insulin levels after meal consumption. This can potentially cause metabolic and hormonal imbalances that further cause weight gain by increasing the appetite and fat storage [7].
A study conducted on rodents showed that stevia increases insulin
sensitivity in them [8]. Also, it regulates blood glucose and insulin levels in humans [9].
Therefore, they can prove quite helpful to Type 2 Diabetes patients
as stevia can stimulate secretion of insulin.
Weight Management
Due to the zero calories stevia proves quite effective in weight
management. It is generally believed to suppress hunger which helps
one in controlling body weight and managing cardio metabolic
activity.
A research conducted on this showed that low or no calorie alternatives used in place of caloric sweeteners can result in modest weight loss and can act as a useful dietary tool for continuation with weight loss and weight maintenance plans [10].
A research conducted on this showed that low or no calorie alternatives used in place of caloric sweeteners can result in modest weight loss and can act as a useful dietary tool for continuation with weight loss and weight maintenance plans [10].
Anti-Cancer Properties
Initially stevia usage was banned due to development of skin cancer in mice but later it was declared GRAS after thorough research. A study indicates that stevia is completely safe, and rebaudioside A, has been found to be nontoxic and nongenotoxic [11].
In fact stevia can have anti-oncogenic properties too. Several
laboratories conducted in vitro research which showed that various
S. Rebaudiana extracts have anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic
properties on cancer cell lines [12].
In a research, it has shown to have anti-breast cancer affects too
[13].
Stevia is an Effective Antioxidant
Stevia leaf extract exhibits a high degree of antioxidant activity.
The antioxidant activity of stevia leaf extract has been attributed to the scavenging of free radical electrons and superoxides. A recent study assessing the In vitro potential of ethanolic leaf extract of Stevia Rebaudiana indicates S. Rebaudiana has significant potential for use as a natural antioxidant agent [14].
Skin benefits
Stevia is made a part of a lot of commercial products such as facial masks which are thought to help smooth and rejuvenate the skin.
It has also been used for treating other skin disorders, such as acne, eczema and dermatitis.
Side Effects of Stevia
Stevia is natural substance but that does not ensure that it is free of any side effects. Research on it is still in its initial stages.
A study was conducted on rats which showed that its high dosage can reduce sperm production and increase cell proliferation in their testicles, which could cause infertility or other problems [15].
Research conducted has showed that extensive use (>1680 mg/day)
of non-nutritive sweeteners which includes stevia leads to an
increased bladder cancer risk in humans [16].
Conclusion
Stevia products that are made of rebaudioside A are generally recognized as safe ("GRAS") by FDA and non-toxic and beneficial to a large extent although studies on it are still being conducted but it has shown positive results. It can also be used by people suffering with hypertension [17 ]. It has shown antifungal and antibacterial properties towards various pathogenic bacteria [18].
References
[1] J. E. Brandle , A. N. Starratt , and M. Gijzen , "Stevia rebaudiana: Its agricultural, biological, and chemical properties," Canadian Journal of Plant Science, pp. 527-536, 1998.
[2] Kirtida R. Tandel, "Sugar substitutes: Health controversy over perceived benefits," Journal of pharmacology & pharmacotherapeutics, pp. 236–243., 2011.
[3] Geuns JM, "Stevioside.," Phytochemistry, 2003.
[4] Kuna Vandana et al., "Effectiveness of stevia as a mouthrinse among 12–15-year-old schoolchildren in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh - A randomized controlled trial," Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, 2017.
[5] Margaret Ashwell, "Stevia, Nature’s Zero-Calorie Sustainable Sweetener A New Player in the Fight Against Obesity," Nutrition Today, 2015.
[6] Gardana C , Simonetti P , Canzi E , Zanchi R , and Pietta P , "Metabolism of stevioside and rebaudioside A from Stevia rebaudiana extracts by human microflora.," Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2003.
[7] O'Keefe JH and Bell DS , "Postprandial hyperglycemia/hyperlipidemia (postprandial dysmetabolism) is a cardiovascular risk factor.," The American Journal of cardiology, 2007.
[8] Chang JC , Wu MC , Liu IM , and Cheng JT , "Increase of insulin sensitivity by stevioside in fructose-rich chow-fed rats.," Hormone and Metabolic Research , 2005.
[9] Gregersen S , Jeppesen PB , Holst JJ , and Hermansen K , "Antihyperglycemic effects of stevioside in type 2 diabetic subjects.," Metabolism - Clinical and Experimental, 2004.
[10] Paige E Miller and Vanessa Perez , "Low-calorie sweeteners and body weight and composition: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studie," The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2014.
[11] Williams LD and Burdock GA , "Genotoxicity studies on a high-purity rebaudioside A preparation.," Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2009.
[12] Mann TS et al., "In vitro cytotoxic activity guided essential oil composition of flowering twigs of Stevia rebaudiana.," Natural Product Communications, 2014.
[13] Paul S , Sengupta S , Bandyopadhyay TK , and Bhattacharyya A , "Stevioside induced ROS-mediated apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.," Nutrition and Cancer, 2012.
[14] Shukla S , Mehta A , Bajpai VK , and Shukla S , "In vitro antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of ethanolic leaf extract of Stevia rebaudiana Bert.," Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2009.
[15] https://cspinet.org/eating-healthy/chemical-cuisine.
[16] Weihrauch MR and Diehl V , "Artificial sweeteners--do they bear a carcinogenic risk?," Annals of Oncology, 2004.
[17] Paul Chan et al., "A double-blind placebo-controlled study of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside in human hypertension," British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2000.
[18] Tomita T et al., "Bactericidal activity of a fermented hot-water extract from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni towards enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other food-borne pathogenic bacteria.," Microbiology and Immunology, 1997.
[1] J. E. Brandle , A. N. Starratt , and M. Gijzen , "Stevia rebaudiana: Its agricultural, biological, and chemical properties," Canadian Journal of Plant Science, pp. 527-536, 1998.
[2] Kirtida R. Tandel, "Sugar substitutes: Health controversy over perceived benefits," Journal of pharmacology & pharmacotherapeutics, pp. 236–243., 2011.
[3] Geuns JM, "Stevioside.," Phytochemistry, 2003.
[4] Kuna Vandana et al., "Effectiveness of stevia as a mouthrinse among 12–15-year-old schoolchildren in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh - A randomized controlled trial," Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, 2017.
[5] Margaret Ashwell, "Stevia, Nature’s Zero-Calorie Sustainable Sweetener A New Player in the Fight Against Obesity," Nutrition Today, 2015.
[6] Gardana C , Simonetti P , Canzi E , Zanchi R , and Pietta P , "Metabolism of stevioside and rebaudioside A from Stevia rebaudiana extracts by human microflora.," Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2003.
[7] O'Keefe JH and Bell DS , "Postprandial hyperglycemia/hyperlipidemia (postprandial dysmetabolism) is a cardiovascular risk factor.," The American Journal of cardiology, 2007.
[8] Chang JC , Wu MC , Liu IM , and Cheng JT , "Increase of insulin sensitivity by stevioside in fructose-rich chow-fed rats.," Hormone and Metabolic Research , 2005.
[9] Gregersen S , Jeppesen PB , Holst JJ , and Hermansen K , "Antihyperglycemic effects of stevioside in type 2 diabetic subjects.," Metabolism - Clinical and Experimental, 2004.
[10] Paige E Miller and Vanessa Perez , "Low-calorie sweeteners and body weight and composition: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studie," The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2014.
[11] Williams LD and Burdock GA , "Genotoxicity studies on a high-purity rebaudioside A preparation.," Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2009.
[12] Mann TS et al., "In vitro cytotoxic activity guided essential oil composition of flowering twigs of Stevia rebaudiana.," Natural Product Communications, 2014.
[13] Paul S , Sengupta S , Bandyopadhyay TK , and Bhattacharyya A , "Stevioside induced ROS-mediated apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.," Nutrition and Cancer, 2012.
[14] Shukla S , Mehta A , Bajpai VK , and Shukla S , "In vitro antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of ethanolic leaf extract of Stevia rebaudiana Bert.," Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2009.
[15] https://cspinet.org/eating-healthy/chemical-cuisine.
[16] Weihrauch MR and Diehl V , "Artificial sweeteners--do they bear a carcinogenic risk?," Annals of Oncology, 2004.
[17] Paul Chan et al., "A double-blind placebo-controlled study of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside in human hypertension," British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2000.
[18] Tomita T et al., "Bactericidal activity of a fermented hot-water extract from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni towards enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other food-borne pathogenic bacteria.," Microbiology and Immunology, 1997.
