Replacing sugar with a noncalorie sweetener such as stevia can lower total calorie intake and might be a healthy practice for pregnant women who are overweight, trying to prevent excess weight gain during pregnancy or have type 2 or gestational diabetes. The safety of stevia use by pregnant women has been investigated to a limited extent and might be a safe alternative to sugar while pregnant.
Stevia Characteristics
Stevia is a non-nutritive sweetener extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant. Stevioside and rebaudioside A are the two primary derivatives of the stevia plant from which the sweetener is extracted. It can be 40 to 300 times sweeter than an equal amount of sugar. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sale as a nutritional supplement but not as a sweetener. In a grocery store, for example, you will not find stevia on the aisle next to sugar, but rather on the shelf with the vitamins.
Stevia in Pregnant Lab Animals
Studies on the effects of stevia on pregnancy outcomes are limited to lab animals. However, metabolic pathways are considered comparable. A study in "Human Reproduction" investigated the effects of varying doses of stevia on reproduction and birth defects in hamsters. Intakes of stevioside as high as 284 mg per pound of body weight was safe and did not adversely affect offspring. In a human, this number translates to approximately 80 times the suggested intake, which is about 3.5 mg per pound of body weight.
Stevia Research in Humans Lacking
Pregnant women are considered to be susceptible to any potential negative effects of artificial sweeteners due to the lack of long-term clinical research on their safety. Long-term studies of stevia use during pregnancy, however, are lacking. For this reason, researchers have been careful not to make sweeping conclusions about the safety of stevia and pregnancy in human females even though animal models point to its safety.
Moderate Consumption May Be Safe
While there is little or no scientific evidence that stevia is harmful to expecting mothers and their infants, the research touting its safety during pregnancy is scant. Stevia has not been found to alter genetic material or cause mutations after it is ingested by humans. However, pregnant women are advised by some to consume sugar substitutes, such as stevia, in moderation. Talk to your physician about what can safely fit into your diet while you are pregnant.
References
- "Human Reproduction"; Effect of Stevioside on Growth and Reproduction; V. Yodyingyuad, et al; 1991
- "International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition"; Stevia A Bio-Sweetener: A Review; S.K. Goyal, et al; February 2010
- "Drug and Chemical Toxicology"; Developmental Toxicity of Steviol, a Metabolite of Stevioside, in the Hamster; C. Wasuntarawat, et al; May 1998
- "Food and Chemical Toxicology"; Overview: the History, Technical Function and Safety of Rebaudioside A, a Naturally Occurring Steviol Glycoside, for Use in Food and Beverages; M.C. Carako July 2008
- "Food and Chemical Toxicology"; A Critical Review of the Genetic Toxicity of Stevio and Steviol glycosides; D.J. Brusick; July 2008
- "American Association of Occupational Health Nurses"; The Potential Toxicity of Artificial Sweeteners; C.R. Whitehouse, et al; June 2008
