Effects of Stevia Rebaudiana on Glucose Homeostasis, Blood Pressure and Inflammation: A Critical Review of Past and Current Research Evidence

Abstract

In contrast to artificial sweeteners, there are no reported negative health consequences of Stevia, such as toxicity, teratogenicity, mutagenicity or carcinogenicity. In contrast, the anti-hyperglycemic, antioxidant and antihypertensive properties of stevioside have been well documented, suggesting a potential medicinal use as an adjunctive treatment for several diseases. Anti-hyperglycemic PropertiesStevia glycosides have been widely shown to prevent weight gain and decrease serum glucose levels in animal and human models. As with any zero-calorie sweetener, stevia lacks calories and reduces serum glucose levels that typically rise about 1 hour after carbohydrate consumption, compared to sucrose. However, a 2010 study by Kujur et al. found that stevia significantly reduces mean serum glucose levels in subjects over a 1-month period. The study used Wister rats with diabetes induced by 5% alloxan monohydrate, and found that administering 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of stevia daily resulted in significant time-dependent anti-hyperglycemic effects. When treated with 50 mg/kg of stevia in the aqueous, ether and methanolic extracts for 28 days, mean serum glucose levels fell from 220 to 161 mg/dL; 220 to 171 mg/dL; and 232to 163mg/dL, respectively. When treated with 100 mg/kg of the stevia extracts, mean serum glucose levels fell from 220 to 137 mg/dL; 209 to 168 mg/dL; and 218 to 181 mg/dL, respectively. There were non-significant differences in serum glucose levels between the 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg doses. Rats administered glyburide, a known oral diabetes medication that was used as a positive control, hada reduction in mean serum glucose levels from 211 to 101 mg/dL after 28 days. Thus, the administration of stevia

GlucoMedix®, an extract of Stevia rebaudiana and Uncaria tomentosa, reduces hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension in rat models without toxicity: a treatment for metabolic syndrome

“…GlucoMedix ® showed dose-dependent antihypertensive activity as can be seen in the Figs. 5,6,7 and Tables 11,12, 13, for systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures.…”

“…Stevioside and rebaudioside A are the two most abundant steviol glycosides present in dried Stevia leaves and are responsible for their intensely sweet taste. In addition, various pharmacological effects of Stevia and steviol glycosides have been identified in animal models and humans, such as antibacterial, anti-caries, anti-edema, antifungal, and antihypertensive effects [4][5][6][7][8][9][10], anti-hyperlipidemia effects [11,12], and anti-hyperglycemic effects [6,11,[13][14][15][16][17][18]. In view of its anti-hyperglycemic and antihypertensive effects, Stevia has been suggested as a possible treatment for metabolic syndrome [19,20].…”

Stevia rebaudiana as a nutraceutical for COVID-19 patients with no sugar diet during recovery and its nanoparticle application

“…COVID-19 patients with diabetes still need to maintain their diet by consuming more nutritious foods during the recovery period. The use of artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, and acesulfame have a variety of adverse effects including a negative taste profile, increased risk of metabolic syndrome and obesity, changes in the gut microbiota, neurotransmitter disturbances, and negative pregnancy outcomes (Ray et al, 2020). This paper is a review on the use of S. rebaudiana as a natural sweetener for COVID-19 patients.…”

Steviol Represses Glucose Metabolism and Translation Initiation in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

“…Steviol is used as a food additive and is commercialized as stevia. It suppresses inflammation in the body and helps to regulate blood sugar, but studies on its benefits in humans are remain unclear [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Studies show that steviol treatment inhibited the growth and proliferation of colonic [ 13 ] and and breast cancer cells [ 14 ] and significantly reduced the promotion and initiation of lymphoblastoid cells [ 10 ].…”