NCT03993418

Physiological Effects of Stevia Consumption in Humans

Physiological Effects of Long-term Consumption of Non-nutritive Sweeteners in Humans: a Pilot 12 Week Randomised Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Manchester · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study will evaluate whether long-term consumption of the low calorie sweetener stevia affects glucose tolerance in healthy participants. With regard to this aim, we will recruit 2 study groups, the stevia group where participants will be required to add stevia drops twice daily in their habitual drinks and the control group where participants will be asked not to change anything in their diet and lifestyle.

Detailed description

Excess consumption of caloric sweeteners contributes to the alarming rates of overweight and obesity, whereas non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are non-caloric alternatives offering sensory and health benefits. NNS are widely used to moderate energy intake and postprandial glycaemia, but there is controversial evidence about their role and effects. Stevia, a natural NNS, has been suggested to assist with glucose regulation but data on glucose tolerance after daily consumption of stevia are lacking. The investigators plan to undertake a pilot randomized 2-parallel arm open-label 12-week trial, where participants will start consuming stevia with their habitual drinks. Thirty healthy volunteers (not habitual consumers of stevia or other NNS) will be recruited. The intervention group (n=15) will consume 5 drops of stevia with their habitual drinks twice daily whereas the control group (n=15) will not be required to change anything in their diet, but avoid consuming NNS or diet beverages for the study duration. Key measures in glucose homeostasis including glucose response to an oral glucose tolerance test will be performed before and after the intervention period. Serum and plasma samples will be stored for potential analysis of insulin and gut hormones levels. Participants will have to attend 3 study visits, visit week 0, visit week 6 and visit week 12, but the primary outcome will be assessed in visit week 0 and visit week 12. Participants will be weighed; dietary intake, physical activity and appetite will be also assessed. Faecal samples will be collected and gut microbiome analysis may be performed. Gut microbiome has been considered to be a key linked topic, since it has been suggested that saccharin consumption may induce glucose intolerance in humans through alterations in gut microbiota in humans. The trial will assess whether regular use of stevia in realistic amounts has any effects on glucose homeostasis, and aims to elucidate our understanding of long-term physiological effects of NNS.

Conditions

• Glucose Intolerance
• Obesity

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	stevia	This arm will be required to consume 5 stevia drops twice daily in habitual drinks

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-02-01
• Primary completion: 2019-12-10
• Completion: 2019-12-10
• First posted: 2019-06-20
• Last updated: 2019-12-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom