(PTFS08-02-23) Comparison of a Daily Stevia Beverage vs. a Sucrose Sweetened Beverage on the Human Gut Microbiome, Cardiometabolic Functions and Anthropometric Measurements

Objectives: Stevia is a plant-based, zero calorie, high potency sweetener that is a popular alternative sweetener and used to reduce sugar in foods and beverages. The effects of stevia on the human gut microbiome are not well studied. This study evaluated the effects of a daily stevia beverage compared to a sucrose sweetened beverage on the human gut microbiome, fecal short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles over a four-week intervention period and after a four-week washout period in healthy adults.

Methods: In a randomized, double blinded, parallel design study, generally healthy individuals consumed a daily 16 oz berry flavored beverage containing either 25% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of stevia or 30g of sucrose over a four-week intervention period. Comparison of the human fecal microbiome and fecal SCFA levels was characterized at baseline (week 0), end of intervention (week 4) and end of a four-week post intervention washout period (week 8) via shotgun sequencing and ultra-high performance LCMS respectively. Anthropometric measurements, fasting blood glucose, insulin, blood pressure, pulse and 3-day diet records were also taken at baseline and at weeks 4 and 8.

Results: Fifty-nine (59) individuals (age: 31±9 years, BMI: 22.6±1.7 kg/m²) completed the study. Baseline gut microbial features and fecal SCFA levels did not differ significantly between the stevia and sucrose groups (PERMANOVA p > 0.05). At the end of the 4-week intervention period, there were no significant differences in the gut microbiome at the phylum, family, genus or species level or SCFA levels between the stevia and sucrose groups (FDR-adjusted p > 0.05). There was a significant increase in BMI (0.3 kg/m²; p< 0.05) in the sucrose group relative to the stevia group after the 4-week intervention period. Other anthropometric, cardiometabolic, glycemic measures and food intake did not differ significantly between the groups at the end of the 4-week intervention period (p > 0.05) or at the end of the four-week post intervention washout period (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: A daily stevia beverage at 25% of the ADI had no significant effects on human gut microbiome and did not adversely affect cardiometabolic measures over a 4-week period, compared to a daily beverage containing 30 g of sucrose.

Funding Sources: Funding by Cargill, Inc. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05264636