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Stevia Rebaudiana
I was told recently that research has shown that the herb Stevia may adversely affect the sperm count of males. Is it best to avoid Stevia as a sweetener and what is known about potential side effects
Stevia is used in many countries as a natural non caloric sweetener. In January 2009 the U.S. Food and Drug administration approved two products containing purified Stevia extract for use in foods and beverages. Coca Cola and Pepsi are developing products containing Stevia as an alternative sweetener.
Health benefits of Stevia
- Lowers blood sugar levels in Hypertension
- Lowers blood pressure in Hyperglycaemia
- Anti viral, anti fungal and anti bacterial
- Pancreatic support
- Cardio tonic
Possible side effects of Stevia and cautions
- Abdominal fullness, muscle pain and weakness, dizziness, nausea. High doses may affect kidney function
- Avoid if allergic to the Asteracea/Compositae family - i.e daisy family, ragweed, chrysanthemoms, marigold and other herbs in this category.
- Use cautiously with hypotension and hypoglycaemia conditions and medication.
- Stevia may have a calcium antagonist effect and should be used with caution in hypocalcaemia and calcium channel blocking medication.
Stevia and its effect on sperm
Traditionally Stevia has been used in Paraguay to control fertility and some studies have investigated the influence of Stevia extract on reproduction. Below is an example of two of these studies;
Chronic administration of aqueous extract of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Bertoni in rats: endocrine effects.
[LINK: obfuscated:AL_get(this, 'jour', 'Gen Pharmacol.');] Gen Pharmacol. 1989;20(2):187-91.
Oliveira-Filho RM, Uehara OA, Minetti CA, et al. Chronic administration of aqueous extract of _Stevia__rebaudiana_ (Bert.) Bertoni in rats: endocrine effects. _Gen Pharmacol._ 1989;20:187-191.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Oliveira-Filho%20RM%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract
Oliveira-Filho RM, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Uehara%20OA%22%5BAuthor 5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract
Uehara OA http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Minetti%20CA%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract
Minetti CA, [LINK:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Valle%20LB%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract
Valle LB.
Department of Pharmacology, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
1. The effects of the active principles of S. rebaudiana (SR) on endocrine parameters of male rats were studied upon chronic administrations (60 days) of a concentrated, crude extract of its leaves, starting at prepubertal age (25-30 days old). 2. The following determinations were made: glycemia; serum levels of T3 and T4; available binding sites in thyroid hormone-binding proteins (T3R index); binding of [3H]R 1881 to prostate cytosol; zinc content in prostate, testis, submandibular salivary gland (SMG) and pancreas; water content in testis and prostate. The body weight gain and the final weight of testis, prostate, seminal vesicle, SMG and adrenal were also studied. 3. Results showed that the SR-treated group did not significantly differ from the control group, with exception to the seminal vesicle weight, which fell by about 60%. 4. It is concluded that if the SR extract does have some potential to decrease rat fertility at all, this effect is almost certainly not exerted on the male.
Effect of stevioside on growth and reproduction.
[LINK: obfuscated:AL_get(this, 'jour', 'Hum Reprod.');] Hum Reprod. 1991 Jan;6(1):158-65.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Yodyingyuad%20V%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract
Yodyingyuad V,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Bunyawong%20S%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract]
Bunyawong S.
Yodyingyuad V, Bunyawong S. Effect of stevioside on growth and reproduction. _Hum Reprod._ 1991;6:158-165.
Chulalongkorn University Primate Research Centre, Faculty of Science, Bangkok, Thailand.
The effect on growth and reproduction in hamsters of stevioside, which is extracted from stevia leaves (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) and is currently used as a non-caloric sweetener, was investigated. Four groups of 20 one-month-old hamsters (10 males and 10 females) were daily force-fed with stevioside (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.5 g/kg body wt/day, respectively). No abnormalities were found in growth and fertility in both sexes. All males mated females efficiently and successfully. Females showed normal 4-day oestrus cycles and became pregnant after mating. Each female was mated and allowed to bear three litters during the period of experiment. The duration of pregnancy, number of fetuses, as well as number of young delivered each time from females in the experimental groups were not significantly different from those in the control group. The young F1 and F2 hamsters continuously receiving stevioside via drinking water until one month old and daily force-fed afterwards at the same doses as their parents showed normal growth and fertility. Histological examinations of reproductive tissues from all three generations revealed no evidence of abnormality which could be linked to the effects of consuming stevioside. We conclude that stevioside at a dose as high as 2.5 g/kg body wt/day affects neither growth nor reproduction in hamsters.