Stevia

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Herbs & Supplements:

Stevia

Stevia rebaudiana

 

Principal Proposed Uses

• Sweetener, Hypertension

 

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What Is Stevia Used for Today?

What Is the Scientific Evidence for Stevia?

Dosage

Safety Issues

References

 

 

 

 

 

 

This member of the Aster family has a long history of native use in Paraguay as

a sweetener for teas and foods. It contains a substance known as stevioside that

is 100 to 300 times sweeter than sugar, but provides no calories.1

 

In the early 1970s, a consortium of Japanese food manufacturers developed stevia

extracts for use as a zero-calorie sugar substitute. Subsequently, stevia

extracts became a common ingredient in Asian soft drinks, desserts, chewing gum,

and many other food products. Extensive Japanese research has found stevia to be

extremely safe. However, there have not been enough U.S. studies for the FDA to

approve stevia as a sugar substitute. Without identifying it as such, stevia is

nonetheless widely used by savvy manufacturers to sweeten commercial beverage

teas and other products.

 

Although stevia is best known as a sweetener, it may also help reduce blood

pressure, according to one large double-blind trial.2

 

 

What Is Stevia Used for Today?

Although some people have claimed that stevia can help regulate blood sugar, the

evidence for such an effect is negligible. This dietary supplement is primarily

useful as a sweetening agent.

 

New evidence suggests that stevia may also be helpful for hypertension.3

 

 

What Is the Scientific Evidence for Stevia?

Hypertension

 

A 1-year double-blind study of 106 individuals given stevia extract found

evidence of a significant reduction in blood pressure beginning at 3 months.4 In

the treated group, the average blood pressure at the beginning of the study was

about 166/102. By the end of the study, this had fallen to 153/90. In contrast,

no significant reductions were seen in the placebo group.

 

 

Dosage

Stevia is sold as a powder to be added to foods as needed for appropriate

sweetening effects. It tastes slightly bitter if placed directly in the mouth,

but in liquids this is generally not noticeable, and most people find the taste

delightfully unique.

 

In the hypertension study mentioned above, stevia was given as a standardized

extract supplying 250 mg of stevioside 3 times daily.

 

 

Safety Issues

Neither animal tests nor the extensive Japanese experience with stevia have

uncovered any significant adverse effects.5,6 However, safety in young children,

pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease has not

been established.

 

 

 

References

 

1. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food,

Drugs, and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Wiley; 1996.

 

2. Chan P, Tomlinson B, Chen YJ, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled study

of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside in human hypertension.

Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;50:215–220.

 

3. Chan P, Tomlinson B, Chen YJ, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled study

of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside in human hypertension.

Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;50:215–220.

 

4. Chan P, Tomlinson B, Chen YJ, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled study

of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside in human hypertension.

Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;50:215–220.

 

5. Kinghorn AD, Soejarto DD. Current status of stevioside as a sweetening agent

for human use. Econ Med Plant Res. 1985;1:22.

 

6. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food,

Drugs, and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Wiley; 1996.

 

 

 

Last reviewed March 2002 by HealthGate CAM Medical Review Board

 

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