American Journal of Food Science and Health
Articles Information
American Journal of Food Science and Health, Vol.6, No.2, Jun. 2020, Pub. Date: Apr. 7, 2020
Study of Short-term Effects of Stevia Compared to Sucrose on Blood Glucose and Pressure Response in Healthy Medical Undergraduates – A RCT
Pages: 43-53 Views: 1138 Downloads: 200
Authors
[01] Ida Sharina binti Idris, Faculty of Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bukit Baru, Melaka, Malaysia.
[02] Monisha Dharshini a/p Sankar, Faculty of Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bukit Baru, Melaka, Malaysia.
[03] Dayan Sivanesan, Faculty of Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bukit Baru, Melaka, Malaysia.
[04] Nimasha Rathnaweera Undugoda, Faculty of Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bukit Baru, Melaka, Malaysia.
[05] Ching Chuin Yi, Faculty of Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bukit Baru, Melaka, Malaysia.
Abstract
Stevia is a generic term for the plant Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. Stevia is a natural source of sweetener which acts as an alternative to artificial sweeteners that are available because Stevia replaces cane sugar as it is 20-30 times sweeter. The objective of this study is to compare the short-term effect of Stevia versus sucrose on blood glucose and blood pressure response in healthy medical undergraduates. A randomized controlled trial was conducted from September to October 2019 in Melaka Manipal Medical College, Malaysia. The trial comprised of the intervention group receiving 1g of Stevia powder mixed in 100ml of water and the active control group receiving 20g of sucrose mixed in 100ml of water for 3 consecutive days. Blood pressure was measured on the first and last day using digital blood pressure monitor; whereas blood glucose was measured thrice on third day using a glucometer. Socio-demographic data and side effects were collected using questionnaires. Mean, mean difference, standard deviation, various t-test (paired and unpaired) were calculated in the statistical analysis of the data. From a population of 156 students, a sample size of 20 students per group was obtained. The results of our study were non-significant but we observed a reduction in mean systolic (-1.80 mmHg) and diastolic (-2.85 mmHg) blood pressures in the Stevia group. As for blood glucose response, the Stevia group showed a mean increase at 60 and 90 minute intervals. However, there is mean decrease of 0.15 mmol in blood glucose from 60 to 90 minutes. In conclusion, Stevia has no significant short-term effect on blood pressure and blood glucose response. Stevia could be potentially hypoglycemic provided the study is conducted on a large sample size for long-term consumption.
Keywords
Stevia, Sucrose, Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Medical Undergraduates, RCT
References
[01] Stevia Nature’s Zero-Calorie Sustainable Sweetener A New Player in the Fight Against Obesity Nutr Today. 2015 May; 50 (3): 129-134. Epub 2015 May 14. PMID: 27471327 Margaret Ashwell, OBE, PhD, FafN.
[02] Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Bertoni: A Review Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources Vol. 1 (3), September 2010, pp. 267-286 Swati Madan, Sayeed Ahmad, G N Singh, Kanchan Kohli, Yatendra Kumar, Raman Singh, et al.
[03] A review on the improvement of stevia [Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni)] Ashok Kumar Yadav, S. Singh, D. Dhyani, and P. S. Ahuja.
[04] TheInternational Diabetes Federation https://www.idf.org/our-network/regions-members/western-pacific/members/108-malaysia.html?layout=details&mid=165
[05] Stevia: It’s not just about Calories-The Open Obesity Journal. 2010, 2, 101-10. Jocelynn E. Thomas and Michael J. Glade.
[06] Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) a bio sweetener: a Review. International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition 2010 February; 61 (1): 1-10 S. K Goyal, Samsher & R. K Goyal.
[07] Nutritional and therapeutic values of Stevia rebaudiana: A review- Journal of Medicinal Plant Research 2013, November 10 Vol 7 (46) pg 3343-3353. Ena Gupta, Shalini Purwar, Shanthy Sundaram and G. K. Rai. (https://www.essentialnutrition.com.br/media/artigos/sweetlift/Sweet-Lift-16.pdf)
[08] Characteristic Ice Cream using Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) Leaf Powder as Natural Sweetener. ISSN: 2347-467X, Vol. 07, No. (2) 2019, Pg. 600-606. Asri Suko Mayangsari, Lilis Sri Wahyuni, Purwadi, and Herly Evanuarini https://www.foodandnutritionjournal.org/volume7number2/characteristic-ice-cream-using-stevia- stevia-rebaudiana-leaf-powder-as-natural-sweetener/
[09] Update on low-calorie sweeteners to benefit dental health. Int Dent J 1991; 41: 217-24. Grenby TH.
[10] Assessment of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) -natural sweetener: A review Virendra V Panpatil*, Kalpagam Polasa.
[11] A double‐blind placebo‐controlled study of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside in human hypertension Paul Chan, Brian Tomlinson, Yi-Jen Chen, Ju-Chi Liu, Ming-Hsiung Hsieh.
[12] Effect of Stevia Rebaudiana on glucose tolerance in normal adult humans R. Curi, M. Alvarez, R. B. Bazotte, L. M Botion, J. L. Godoy, and A. Bracht. Brazilian J Med Biol Res (1986) 19: 771-774.
[13] Effect of Acute Stevia Consumption on Blood Glucose Response in Healthy Malay Young Adults NORAZLANSHAH HAZALI*, AZIZAH MOHAMED, MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM, MASHITA MASRI, KHAIRIL ANUAR MD ISA, NORAZMIR MD NOR, MOHD KHAN AYOB & FAZLYLA NADYA MOHD FADZLAN.
[14] Anti-hypertensive (blood pressure lowering) effects of stevioside, from Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni, on rats, dogs and humans. HIMANSHU MISRA, DARSHANA MEHTA, B. K. MEHTA and D. C. JAIN.
[15] Health Implications of Stevia rebaudiana S. M. Savita, K. Sheela, Sharan Sunanda, A. G. Shankar, Parama Ramakrishna & Srinivas Sakey.
600 ATLANTIC AVE, BOSTON,
MA 02210, USA
+001-6179630233
AIS is an academia-oriented and non-commercial institute aiming at providing users with a way to quickly and easily get the academic and scientific information.
Copyright © 2014 - American Institute of Science except certain content provided by third parties.