Stevia is a chemical substance derived from the stevia shrub. More than 30 times sweeter than sugar, but virtually calorie-free, it has been used for decades by people in South America and in Japan as a sweetener. There is controversy surrounding its use as a sweetener. Despite research that indicates it may have positive effects on patients with high blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes, its use as a sweetener or food additive is prohibited in the United States, Europe and Canada. Notwithstanding concerns regarding early research that suggested possible side effects, it has been approved as a nutritional supplement in the United States, creating a curious status whereby it is not considered to be safe enough to sweeten food, but is considered to safe enough to use for over-the-counter medicinal purposes. Its potential benefits for the treatment of anxiety are linked to positive pharmacological effects for patients with diabetes, hypoglycemia and high blood pressure.
Controversy Regarding Safety
Any potential user should be aware of the research and regulatory controversy associated with Stevia. Early attempts to get approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for using Stevia as a sugar substitute have been stymied. In 1994 and several times since, the FDA denied its use, saying there was not enough evidence to conclude that Stevia would be safe to use in food. One concern is that Stevia, once approved, would be widely used in the United States. Although it has been used as a sweetener in Japan since the 1980s, critics say the widespread, long-term use of the sweetener is not yet understood. Also, several early animal and lab studies implicated Stevia in animal reproduction problems and as a potential cause of cellular mutations during in-vitro toxicological studies. Proponents for Stevia say most studies find no harmful effects. They argue that those few that do are flawed, or are based on animal lab studies and not on the study of intact organisms. Finally, critics of the FDA's stance point out that sweeteners such as aspartame (NutraSweet) were approved by the FDA despite significant amounts of research that indicated negative side effects. In 2006, the World Health Organization reviewed research and concluded that Stevia is safe and has positive effects for high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. Despite its use for decades in several countries, and a growing body of research that generally indicates benign or positive effects, an understanding of the impact of significant, long-term use of Stevia on human populations is still a work in progress.
Sweetness Without Sugar
One of the purported benefits of Stevia, that it would potentially reduce the occurrence of hypoglycemia-induced anxiety, is that it provides sweetness to foods and beverages without affecting the blood sugar/pancreas/insulin relationship. People who are diabetic, pre-diabetic or are vulnerable to hypoglycemia can experience anxiety symptoms after eating sugar. In response to high blood sugar levels, the pancreas overproduces insulin. This causes a crash in blood sugar levels along with a surge of hormones, including epinephrine. The symptoms of hypoglycemia include anxiety, rapid heart rate, tremors, headaches, fatigue and memory failure. Stevia does not affect blood sugar levels, so hypoglycemia and the associated anxiety are not triggered.
High Blood Pressure
Research has indicated that Stevia can decrease high blood pressure, which is associated in some people with elevated anxiety and irritability. For example, a two-year longitudinal study of Chinese patients with mild high blood pressure found that those treated with 500 mg of Stevia three times daily had significant improvements in blood pressure and in quality of life. No significant negative effects were noted in the study.
Effect on Metabolism and Anxiety
According to research reported at AboutBreathing.com, very large dosages of Stevia can disrupt the absorption of carbohydrates and conversion of food into energy within cells. This may induce anxiety in some people. The FDA has received reports of depression, anxiety and hyperactivity in response to higher dosages of Stevia.
Recommendations
Initial research on Stevia suggests there are possible benefits to using it, especially for those who suffer from hypoglycemia and anxiety related to hypoglycemia. Higher dosages and long-term, intense use may have less-desirable effects, including anxiety or hyperactivity. Its medicinal use for treatment of high blood pressure and incidentally for anxiety associated with high blood pressure looks positive and hopeful, but is still not widely practiced. The most conservative advice at this point is to use Stevia at your own risk, and use it sparingly. Meanwhile, anxiety that is triggered by hypoglycemia can be managed by reducing your consumption of simple sugars and eating more complex carbohydrates such as fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, unrefined breads made with whole grains, and legumes.
References
- AboutBreathing.com: Stevia, the Herbal Sweetener -- How Safe Is It Really?
- NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov: Stevioside and related compounds: therapeutic benefits beyond sweetness.
- NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov: Efficacy and tolerability of oral stevioside in patients with mild essential hypertension: a two-year, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
