(P06-045-25) The Effects of Stevia on Acute Endocrine Hormone Release and Subsequent Food Intake in Men and Women With Overweight

Objectives: Stevia is a widely used plant-based, zero calorie sweetener, however its effect on the human endocrine system is not well studied. This study evaluated the effects of beverages sweetened with stevia, glucose, a combination of glucose + stevia, or water on acute glycemic and appetite regulatory hormone responses and subsequent energy intake.

Methods: In a randomized, double blind, crossover design study, healthy individuals with overweight consumed 473 ml beverages containing either 25% of the acceptable daily intake of stevia (0 kcal), 30 g glucose (120 kcal), 30 g glucose + stevia (120 kcal), or water (0 kcal). Blood samples were collected at t = -5 (pre-dose), 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 180 ± 2 min and analyzed for glucose, insulin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) concentrations. Energy intake during an ad libitum standard lunch was recorded.

Results: Twenty-three individuals (median age: 36 years, body mass index: 27.9 kg/m²) completed the study. The incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for plasma concentrations of glucose increased significantly more with glucose [median:1779 min*mg/dL)] and stevia + glucose [median: 1988; min*mg/dL] compared to the stevia [median 47.4 min*mg/dL] and water [18.9 min*mg/dL] beverages (P < 0.001). Similarly, the iAUC for insulin increased significantly more with the glucose [1017 min*mU/L] and stevia + glucose [1155 (548, 2367) min*mU/L] beverages compared to the stevia [56.3 min*mU/L] and water [12.8 min*mU/L] beverages (P < 0.001). The iAUC for GIP increased significantly more with the glucose [4583 min*pg/mL] and stevia + glucose [7133 min*pg/mL] beverages compared to the stevia [72.4min*pg/mL] and water [1.25min*pg/mL) beverages (P < 0.001). There were no differences between beverages for glucagon, PYY, GLP-1, or energy intake during the ad libitum meal.

Conclusions: The stevia beverage had no significant effects on acute appetite regulatory hormone responses or subsequent energy intake. The acute hormone responses to stevia + glucose were similar to those for glucose alone.

Funding Sources: This study was funded by Cargill, Inc.