Stevia, a naturally sweet South American shrub, has a long tradition of use as a sweetener in Brazil and Paraguay. More recently, it's become a popular sugar substitute in the United States, where it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2008 as "generally recognized as safe." Because it has no calories and doesn't appear to affect blood sugar levels, stevia has become a common ingredient in low-calorie foods and beverages. Though stevia has been sanctioned by the FDA, there are possible dangers associated with stevia.
Mild Discomfort
Some people who consume stevia may experience mild nausea and a feeling of being too full, according to the Mayo Clinic. This discomfort is usually short-lived.
Reproductive Problems
Two studies suggest that long-term consumption of large quantities of stevia might cause reproductive problems. An animal study, published in 1985 in the "Journal of Food and Hygienic Society of Japan," found that male rats had reduced sperm count and signs of infertility after 22 months of high stevia consumption. Another study, reported in the May 1998 edition of the journal "Drug and Chemical Toxicology," found that hamsters who were fed large doses of stevia had smaller birthweight babies than hamsters who didn't eat stevia. There are so far no studies showing similar effects in humans.
Metabolism
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), animal studies also show that consuming large amounts of stevia may affect metabolism by disrupting the absorption of carbohydrates for energy conversion. There are so far no studies showing similar effects in humans.
Cancer
CSPI also points out that stevia can be converted in a laboratory to compound that may cause cell mutation. If a mutation affects a cell's DNA, it could cause cancer. It's not clear if stevia would cause mutation without laboratory intervention.
Other Risks
Because use of stevia is still fairly new in the United States, the Mayo Clinic recommends that people who are on medication for high blood pressure or diabetes avoid using stevia because of the possibility that it could cause hypoglycemia or hypotension when combined with those medications. The Mayo Clinic also recommends pregnant and breastfeeding women avoid it as a precaution.
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