Dilay Rıdvan

Position Paper
Paul Newton

A Natural Sweetener Alternative against Artificial Sweeteners: Stevia

The use of artificial sweeteners also known as calorie-free sweeteners, intense

sweeteners, sugar substitutes, are began for the need for cost reduction and calorie
reduction in 1950’s. Since artificial sweeteners have zero calories, they count as
calorie-free substances and are commonly preferred by patients with diabetics and
obesity. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 5 artificial
sweeteners, which are Saccharin, Aspartame, Acesulfame potassium, Sucralose, and
Neotame. [1] Saccharin and Aspartame are the most used and known ones in daily
life. However, the results of a 2017 randomized trial declared that artificial
sweeteners may increase body mass index (BMI), weight, metabolic syndrome and
type 2 diabetes. [2] These concerns generate a divergence in the medical community
about being for or against the usage of these mentioned food additives. In these cases,
seeking of a healthier and unprocessed alternative has started. Stevia is a %100
natural, calorie-free sweetener that comes from Stevia Rebaudiana plant and it is 150-
200 times sweeter than table sugar. [3] The most natural form of Stevia is the dried
leaf of the plant and it can also be found in the forms of cube and granulated sugar.
Since Stevia is zero-calorie, helps to regulate blood pressure and blood sugar, have
properties of a strong antioxidant and is on sale at all supermarkets around the world,
it is a healthier choice.

Working Principle and Effect on Weight Control

When sucrose hits the tongue, it stimulates the taste bud receptors and sends a sweet
sensation message to brain. The degree of sweetness tasted, depends on how well the
taste bud receptors in the tongue interact with the molecules. Artificial sweeteners,
which are hundreds of times sweeter than nutritive ones, also work with the same
procedure. That means, they simply pass through the digestive system without being
absorbed. Overstimulation of sugar bud receptors from regular use of these hyper-
intense sweeteners may limit tolerance for more complex tastes in the long term. [3]

1
That means people who regularly use artificial sweeteners may start to find nutritive
sweet foods, like fruit and non-sweet foods, like vegetables, quite tasteless.
Artificial sweeteners may also lead to other cravings. One theory is that when your
brain senses sweet taste that is not accompanied by energy or calories, it is confused
and therefore urges the desire to eat more to get energy. The researchers have
investigated a mouse study and concluded that when animals chronically consume
foods with artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, the physiologic effect is an increase
of the sweet intensity of “real sugar” and a drive to eat more food. It’s a case of a fake
substitute not replacing the “real one” and ending up craving more. [4] Therefore
consuming them regularly may lead to a risk of weight gain. It is concluded that
artificial sweeteners, in the long term increased the relative possibility of abdominal
obesity by 59% and obesity by 84%. [5] On the other hand a 2010 study published in
the journal "Appetite" found that people taking Stevia did not feel more hungry or
have more sugar cravings than people consuming real sugar and it actually helps
reducing the hunger sessions when 10-15 drops are taken 20 minutes before meals
since it provides low-blood sugar [6]

Effect of Stevia versus Splenda on Blood sugar

One of the most important criteria that should be considered while the consumption of
sweeteners is the side effect of the products. Researchers from the United Kingdom
and Belgium have found that stevia activates a protein called TRPM5, which is
associated with taste perception. Besides that, TRPM5 has a job of releasing the
hormone insulin after eating. [8] This means that Stevia plays a role in controlling
sugar blood system and helps preventing type-2 diabetics by releasing insulin. On the
other hand, another research about sucralose shows that Splenda (sucralose) affects
your body's insulin response. According to a glucose-challenge test, after consuming
only water, study participants drank a Splenda-sweetened beverage and their insulin
levels rose about 20 percent higher (10 times greater than the optimum value) [9].
This indicates that the effect of sucralose on blood sugar is almost the same as sucrose
and it is a major contradiction for patients with diabetics.
Risk of cancerous tumor formation is relatively increases with the usage of
artificial sweeteners
Stevia is also an immune system supporter. Several studies have demonstrated the
inhibitory effects of stevia leaf extracts and their polyphenolic constituents on tumor

2
promotion and initiation. [11] Controversially, there is a big concern about artificial
sweeteners effect on increasing the likelihood of cancer. In a study, researchers fed
male mice with Splenda (sucralose) beginning from birth and continuing for their
whole lifespan. A significant increase in cancerous tumors was determined among
male mice, and the risk increased along with the doses of 2,000 to 16,000 ppm. [12]
Taste and Price Comparison
The sweetness degrees of both natural and artificial sweeteners are approximately
150-250 times greater than table sugar. So the question arises as to why the demand
for these healthy sugar substitutes are relatively low relative from the artificial ones.
Major deterrent factors of Stevia are the taste and price. Stevia has a slightly bitter,
metallic aftertaste that can be a turn-off for some people. On the other hand, taste of
the artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and aspartame are relatively close to the
taste of sucrose (table sugar).

Table 1: Prices and Production situation in the world at 2003

According to the Table 1, Stevioside (Stevia) and Glycyrrhizin (also a natural

sweetener) have the highest price per kg. Clearly, the natural sweeteners are at least
two times expensive than other sugar substitutes. As the demand for natural
sweeteners decreases supply is automatically decreases. Therefore the production
volumes per ton of Stevia and Glycyrrhizin are the lowest.
In conclusion, artificial sweeteners conceivably contribute obesity rather than help to
prevent it. Opposed to popular belief these artificial substitutes increase the blood

3
sugar therefore they are extremely dangerous for patients with diabetics. The
affordable price and real-like taste of artificial sweeteners make them more intended
and increases their demand. Although Stevia has disadvantages like the high price and
bitter taste, there are major health benefits such as regulating blood sugar and
pressure, controlling weight and preventing the formation of cancer cells. Thus, it
would be a reasonable and healthier choice to use Stevia (natural sweeteners) rather
than artificial sugar substitutes.

Bibliography
1- Irimia R, Gottschling M (2016) Taxonomic Revision Of Rochefortia Sw.
(ehretiaceae, Boraginales). Biodiversity Data Journal 4: E7720.
Https://doi.org/10.3897/bdj.4.e7720

2- Jwatch.org. (2018). NEJM Journal Watch: Summaries of and commentary on

original medical and scientific articles from key medical journals. [online]
Available at: https://www.jwatch.org/fw113100/2017/07/17/artificial-
sweeteners-not-tied-lower-bmi-and-may-
even?query=pfwRSTOC&jwd=000020054348&jspc

3- Healthline. (2018). Stevia: Side Effects, Benefits, and More. [online] Available
at: https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/stevia-side-effects
[Accessed 18 Mar. 2018].

4- Strawbridge, H. (2018). Artificial sweeteners: sugar-free, but at what cost? -

Harvard Health Blog. [online] Harvard Health Blog. Available at:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-
what-cost-201207165030 [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018].

5- Healthcentral.com. (2018). Do Artificial Sweeteners Make You Crave Sugar,

Gain Weight? - Diet & Exercise | HealthCentral. [online] Available at:
https://www.healthcentral.com/article/do-artificial-sweeteners-make-you-
crave-sugar-gain-weight [Accessed 16 Mar. 2018].

6- Bezsheiko, V. (2018). How do artificial sweeteners affect your health?.

[online] E-medjournal.com. Available at: https://e-
medjournal.com/index.php/psp/article/view/46

7- LIVESTRONG.COM. (2018). Stevia Side Effects: Nervous System &

Psychological. [online] Available at:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/477769-stevia-side-effects-nervous-
system-psychological/ [Accessed 16 Mar. 2018].

8- HRFnd. (2018). Sucralose Health Risks - HRFnd. [online] Available at:

https://healthresearchfunding.org/sucralose-health-risks/ [Accessed 18 Mar.
2018].

4
9- Chan P, Tomlinson B, Chen Y, Liu J, Hsieh M, Cheng J. A doubleblind
placebo-controlled study of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside
in human hypertension. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2000; 50: 215-20.

10- Pepino, M., Tiemann, C., Patterson, B., Wice, B. and Klein, S.
(2018). Sucralose Affects Glycemic and Hormonal Responses to an Oral
Glucose Load.

11- Xi Y, Yamaguchi T, Sato M, Takeuchi M. Antioxidant mechanism of Stevia

rebaudiana extract and antioxidant activity of inorganic salts. Japan Soc Food
Sci Technol 1998; 45: 317-22.

12- Akihisa T, Hamasaki Y, Tokuda H, Ukiya M, Kimura Y, Nishino H.

Microbial transformation of isosteviol and inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr
virus activation of the transformation products. J Nat Prod 2004; 67: 407-10.

13- Anon, (2018). [online] Available at:

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/03/30/artificial-
sweeteners-cause-cancer.aspx [Accessed 18 Mar. 2018].

14- Table 1: Uni-hohenheim.de. (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.uni-

hohenheim.de/fileadmin/einrichtungen/stevia/downloads/World_Market_Suga
r.pdf [Accessed 20 Mar. 2018].