Common Names
- Kaa he-he
- Sweet herb of Paraguay
- Caa-ehe
- Honey leaf
For Patients & Caregivers
How It Works
Stevia is used as a substitute for sugar.
Stevia is an herb that is used as a sweetener. The FDA allows only a purified ingredient from stevia as a food additive. Some studies have shown that stevia helps lower blood pressure in humans. Other animal and laboratory studies suggest stevia products can suppress inflammation mediators in the body and can help to regulate blood sugar level. However, these effects have not been studied in humans.
Purported Uses
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Sweetener
Stevia can be used as a low-calorie sweetener. -
Hypertension
Stevia may lower blood pressure. -
Antitumor properties
Laboratory studies show that Stevia has antitumor properties but this has not been confirmed in humans. -
Inflammation
Laboratory studies suggest that Stevia may reduce inflammation. -
Diabetes
Animals studies suggest stevia products can help to regular blood sugar but human data are lacking. -
Weight loss
There are no data to support this use.
For Healthcare Professionals
Clinical Summary
Stevia rebaudiana is an herb native to Brazil and Paraguay. Its raw leaves as well as purified extracts, such as stevioside and its aglycone steviol, have been used as sweeteners and promoted as sugar substitutes for diabetics (2). Stevia extract is said to be many times sweeter than table sugar (1). However, only the purified steviol glycosides have the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status by the FDA for use in food (8).
In vitro and animal studies indicate that stevia has antitumor (5), anti-inflammatory (6), and hepato- and reno-protective effects (11). Stevia was also shown effective in lowering hypertension and hyperglycemia (3) (13). In a placebo-controlled trial in patients with hypertension, stevioside usage improved quality of life when compared with placebo (4). Well-designed trials are warranted.
Stevia may have additive effects with other antihypertensive and antidiabetic medications. Gastrointestinal and neurological side-effects as well as mutagenic activity have been reported (3) (4) (7).
Mechanism of Action
The mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive effect of stevioside are still unclear, although it is believed to act as a calcium channel antagonist, similar to the drug verapamil (9). It may also have antitumor properties, as evidenced by its inhibition of the tumor-promoting 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in mouse skin (5). In vitro studies have shown that stevioside suppresses the production of inflammatory mediators (6). Stevia products have been shown to inhibit hepatic gluconeogenesis (10) and increase insulin sensitivity in animal studies (11).
Warnings
At high doses, steviol was shown to exhibit weak mutagenic activity (7).
Adverse Reactions
Case Report: Four patients in a study experienced abdominal fullness, myalgia, nausea, and asthenia following consumption of 500 mg stevioside powder. Their symptoms disappeared after 1 week of treatment (4).