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Stevia Risks

Stevia is a calorie-free sweetener that is largely derived from the leaves of a bush indigenous to Brazil and Paraguay. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved stevia as a sweetener in 2008, giving the product a "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) designation. Critics of stevia allege that it has been improperly tested, further stating that "GRAS" ingredients receive insufficient analysis from federal authorities.

  1. Blood Sugar

    • Diabetics or people with low blood sugar are potentially at risk if they take stevia, according to the University Of Virginia. Stevia may cause blood pressure levels to drop of their own accord. A person who has been prescribed medications to lower blood sugar levels should consult with his doctor before using stevia.

    Reproductive Risks

    • The Center for Science in the Public Interest claims that stevia may adversely affect male reproductive abilities. The center bases its allegation on a European study in which rats and hamsters were fed large doses of stevia for 22 months. At the conclusion of the study, the stevia-fed rodents exhibited a lowered sperm count and an increase in testicle cell proliferation that might cause infertility.

    Cancer Risks

    • The active ingredient in stevia is known as steviol. Steviol can be converted into a possible cancer-causing agent under controlled laboratory conditions. "We don't know if this conversion of stevioside to steviol to a mutagen happens in humans," says Ryan Huxtable, a toxicologist at the University of Arizona in Tuscon.

    Dosage Risks

    • The Mayo Clinic states that consumption of stevia is probably safe, but it advises an intake of only small or moderate doses. Mayo Clinic further recommends that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid stevia.

    Common Adverse Reactions

    • Stevia is up to 300 times sweeter than ordinary sugar. A person used to eating sugar, or common sugar substitutes, may experience a few mild side effects upon trying stevia for the first time. Instances of dizziness, nausea and muscle pain have been reported.

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