Does Stevia Affect Insulin?

Stevia is derived from the herb Stevia rebaudiana, which belongs to the Chrysanthemum family and is used as a sugar substitute, as it contains virtually no calories. Because early clinical studies say stevia might help regulate the production of insulin or improve insulin sensitivity, the World Health Organization recognizes stevia as a safe, nontoxic option for individuals who are dieting or who have been diagnosed with diabetes. However, further research is necessary to fully understand the relationship between stevia and insulin. Consult your health care provider before ingesting stevia.

Effect of Stevia on Insulin

A study published in the March 2003 and October 2004 editions of "Metabolism" concluded that stevia helps to both improve insulin sensitivity and increase the production of insulin in diabetic rats. Insulin is a hormone the body produces in the presence of glucose, which the body uses for energy. Insulin helps transport glucose from the bloodstream to the cells to be used as energy. A lack of insulin means glucose is not being effectively transported for use as energy, while insulin sensitivity suggests that the body is not responding to insulin and compensates by producing more insulin. Too little or too much insulin poses health threats, such as diabetes. Another study published in a 2005 edition of "Hormone and Metabolic Research" confirmed the findings presented in "Metabolism," but adds that stevia did not impact blood-glucose or insulin levels in individuals with normal levels.

Health Benefits

Several health experts have hypothesized that stevia might help individuals diagnosed with diabetes or metabolic syndrome, as it guards against blood-glucose fluctuations. Because type 2 diabetes is associated with insulin sensitivities or the inefficient production of insulin, stevia is an ideal alternative to table sugar or maple syrup. Not only is stevia 10 to 15 times sweeter than sugar, but it has a glycemic index rating of 0, whereas sucrose has a moderate glycemic index rating of 60 and glucose has a high glycemic index rating of 100. The glycemic index is a system that measures the impact certain carbohydrates have on blood-glucose levels, and in effect, insulin levels. Because stevia has the lowest glycemic index rating possible, it does not have a significant impact on blood-glucose levels.

Health Concerns

Although several clinical studies support stevia as having a positive impact on insulin levels, the noncaloric sweetener should still be consumed in moderation. A report published in the February 2008 edition of "Behavioral Neuroscience" explains that sweeteners such as stevia cater to the sweet tooth and that overweight or obese individuals ingesting such sweeteners might be accustomed to a higher intake of sweets than a healthy diet would require. While stevia might be the ideal sugar substitute for your daily cup of coffee, it should not serve as an excuse to consume more of it.

Considerations

The evidence to support stevia as a treatment option for individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is severely limited. Furthermore, the existing clinical trials, which tested stevia's effect on insulin, have been performed on rats rather than humans. To validate stevia's positive effect on insulin, a large-scale clinical trial on humans diagnosed with type 1 and 2 diabetes is needed. Stevia should not serve as a replacement for professional advice, a nutritious diet or an active lifestyle.