Stevia Purchase & Information

Alternative Names

Azucacaa, Ca-A-Jhei, Ca-A-Yupi, Caa-He-É, Caa'Inhem, Capim Doce, Chanvre d'Eau, Eira-Caa, Erva Doce, Estevia, Green Stevia, Kaa Jhee, Paraguayan Stevioside, Plante Sucrée, Reb A, Rebaudioside A, Rébaudioside A, Rebiana, Stévia, Stevia Plant, Stevioside, Sweetleaf, Sweet Herb of Paraguay, Sweet Herb, Sweet Leaf of Paraguay, Yerba Dulce

Scientific Name

Stevia rebaudiana

Why Do People Use Stevia?

The oral preparations of Stevia rebaudiana (Stevia), like stevia powder, are used as weight loss aid, contraception, for treating diabetes, heartburn, hypertension, as a diuretic and cardiotonic and for lowering uric acid levels. In Food Items Preparations - In makings of food products, stevia is used to increase flavor and as non-caloric sweetener.

Is It Safe To Use?

Likely Safe - Stevia powder is considered safe to use when its constituents called rebaudioside A or stevioside are orally utilized as a sweetener agents in foods. Rebaudioside A is the most rich steviol glycoside constituent that exists in stevia. Rebaudioside A has attained GRAS status in the United States. Safe dosage of is up to 1500 mg per day for consecutively two years. Avoid During Pregnancy and Lactation - Breastfeeding mothers and pregnant ladies should avoid oral or topical consumption of stevia because there is insufficient and unreliable information available in this regard.

How Effective Is Stevia?

Diabetes - Initial studies recommend that ingesting the most effective constituent of stevia called stevioside in an amount of 1000 mg per day may help in reducing the level of postprandial glucose by 18% in individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes. On other hand, some clinical research also recommends that oral consumption of 250 mg trice every day does not greatly affect glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) or blood glucose levels after three months of treatment in patients suffering from type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Hypertension - There are some clinical researches that suggest that oral consumption of stevioside, which is the most effective constituent of stevia, between 750 to 1500 mg per day may decrease diastolic blood pressure by 6-14 mmHg and systolic blood pressure by 10-14 mmHg within one week of starting of treatment. But clinical researches also suggests that the daily oral consumption of stevioside in dose up to 15 mg/kg does not extensively decrease the blood pressure level in patients with nominal hypertension. However, more confirmations are required to rate safety of stevia for other purposes.

How Stevia Works?

The most effective part of Stevia rebaudiana are the leaves. Stevia leaves consist of steviol glycosides that have important role in giving sweet properties of the plant. These fundamentally include rebaudiosides A and C and steviosides. Rebaudiosides A and Stevioside are heat and acid stable, non-caloric and 200 to 300 times sweeter than sucrose. Research in animal models recommend that stevioside may act as a calcium channel blocker. Extract of stevia has diuretic and vasodilating action in rats. Stevioside and stevia extract also appear to decrease blood pressure in animal and human studies, but clinical research in patients suffering from hypertension is contradictory. In vitro, stevia constituent steviol and stevioside may stimulate insulin emission through a direct activity on beta cells. Steviol may also inhibit GI glucose retention. Some other studies propose that stevioside may enhance skeletal muscle glucose transport and enhance insulin sensitivity. A liquid stevia leaves extract may reduce plasma glucose levels and increase glucose tolerance in a small group of healthy individuals. Stevioside also enhances the hepatic glycogen synthesis in animal models. In any case there is conflicting results from clinical research in people about the impact of stevia constituents on blood glucose levels in patients suffering from diabetes. IStevia may have antibacterial impacts. In vitro, a fermented liquid extract of stevia is bactericidal against numerous food borne pathogenic microbes including E. coli 0157:H7, which is the enterohemorrhagic E. coli may act as an outbreak for serious food poisoning. Steviol and stevioside may have some effects against human colon carcinoma cells. High amount of these constituents seem to lessen cell survival in vitro. They also decrease tumor necrosis factor-alpha-stimulated interleukin-8 production.

What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Stevia?

Steviol and stevia glycoside constituents, for example stevioside, can sometimes be responsible for gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and abdominal fullness. Some other adverse effects are reported such as dizziness, headache, numbness and myalgia. Few clinical experiments have not found any major adverse effects. Theoretically, stevia may also lead to allergic reactions in people sensitive to the Compositae or Asteraceae family plants. Family members included in this family are chrysanthemums, ragweed, daisies, and marigolds.

How Stevia Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?

Following are some supplements & herbs that may interact with stevia powder: • Herbs & Supplements with hypoglycemic activity • Herbs & Supplements with hypotensive activity

How Stevia Interacts With Drugs?

Stevia rebaudiana may interact with following herbs: • Antidiabetes Drugs • Antihypertensive Drugs • Lithium

How Stevia Interacts With Foods?

Not known.

How Stevia Interacts With Lab Tests?

Stevia powder may influence the results of following lab tests: • Blood Pressure • Glucose

How Stevia Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?

Stevia may interacts with following conditions or diseases: • Cross-Allergenicity • Diabetes • Hypotension

What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Stevia?

ORAL To treat hypertension, a stevia constituent, known as stevioside, should be orally used in a dosage of 250 to 500 mg three thrice every day.

Comments

Stevia is a local plant in the South American regions. It has been taken by their locals as sweetener for last number of decades. Stevia has been available particularly as a dietary supplement in the United States but was not available as a food item additive sweetener up to 2008 when a particular constituent of rebaudioside A, stevia has attained GRAS status. It is also available as a sweetener in other countries such as South Korea, Israel, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Venezuela, Uruguay, Brazil, Russia, Paraguay, Columbia and Argentina.

General Certificate of Analysis (COA)

Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.