Stevia could cause an intestinal microbial imbalance. 

According to a new study conducted by Israeli researchers, this natural sweetener could cause an intestinal microbial imbalance. The results have just been published in Molecules. 

Stevia could cause an intestinal microbial imbalance.

An alternative to sugar, sweeteners provide a sweet taste while remaining low in calories. In France, stevia gained popularity lately because it was authorized for consumption by the decree of August 26, 2009, but it has been used for several decades in South America, Japan, and China. It is about 100 to 300 times sweeter than ordinary table sugar but contains no calories or carbohydrates.

However, an Israeli study points to an unexpected effect of stevia. Indeed, according to research conducted by scientists from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), this natural sweetener could lead to an intestinal microbial imbalance. The results have just been published in Molecules, one of the leading international peer-reviewed chemistry journals. This microbial imbalance could lead to the development of gastrointestinal health problems.

Indeed, according to this study, stevia could disrupt communications between different bacteria in the intestinal microbiome. "Through this research, the scientific team discovered that it inhibits these pathways and does not kill bacteria. This is the first study that indicates further research is needed before the food industry replaces sugar and artificial sweeteners with stevia and its extracts. We showed that even a natural supplement can actually disrupt bacterial communication," said lead researcher Dr. Karina Golberg of the Avram BGU and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnological Engineering.

Dangerous sweeteners?

"We are not here to say that you are not allowed to take stevia because there is a health implication. However, [those] who take stevia must take into account the fact that we can actually harm the microbiome by affecting its communication system," she said. 

Previous studies conducted by Ben-Gurion University in 2018 showed that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame were toxic to bacteria in the digestive system. A mechanism is potentially responsible for a wide range of health problems from weight gain to diabetes and even cancer. The next stage of research will be conducted on animals, most likely mice, to see if stevia has the same disturbing effects as those observed in the laboratory. Market analyst Emergen Research says the global market for stevia is expected to reach nearly $1.2 billion by 2027.