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Effect of stevia on the gut microbiota and glucose tolerance in a murine model of diet-induced obesity.

FEMS microbiology ecology
June 1, 2020
Sarah L Becker et al. (6 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.Animal Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether stevia supplementation could correct high-fat diet-induced glucose intolerance and alter the gut microbiota in mice.

Results Summary

Stevia supplementation did not impact body weight or glucose intolerance in mice on a high-fat diet. It resulted in similar gut microbiota alterations as saccharin but did not rescue high-fat diet-induced changes.

Population

Mice (split into low-fat, high-fat, high-fat + saccharin, and high-fat + stevia groups).

Effective Dosage

Not specified in the abstract.

Duration

10 weeks.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (8)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Artificial sweeteners
increase
glucose intolerance
-
-
have been shown to induce
#1
high fat diet
increase
glucose intolerance
mice
-
developed
#2
high fat diet
increase
body weight
mice
-
gained more weight than
#3
Stevia supplementation
no change
body weight
mice
-
did not impact
#4
Stevia supplementation
no change
glucose intolerance
mice
-
did not impact
#5
low fat diet
neutral
species richness
mice
-
Differences in
#6
low fat diet
neutral
relative abundances of several phyla
mice
-
Differences in
#7
stevia
neutral
the gut microbiota
mice
-
results in similar alterations to
#8
Abstract

Artificial sweeteners have been shown to induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota; however, little is known about the effect of stevia. Here, we investigate whether stevia supplementation induces glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota in mice, hypothesizing that stevia would correct high fat diet-induced glucose intolerance and alter the gut microbiota. Mice were split into four treatment groups: low fat, high fat, high fat + saccharin and high fat + stevia. After 10 weeks of treatment, mice consuming a high fat diet (60% kcal from fat) developed glucose intolerance and gained more weight than mice consuming a low fat diet. Stevia supplementation did not impact body weight or glucose intolerance. Differences in species richness and relative abundances of several phyla were observed in low fat groups compared to high fat, stevia and saccharin. We identified two operational taxonomic groups that contributed to differences in beta-diversity between the stevia and saccharin groups: Lactococcus and Akkermansia in females and Lactococcus in males. Our results demonstrate that stevia does not rescue high fat diet-induced changes in glucose tolerance or the microbiota, and that stevia results in similar alterations to the gut microbiota as saccharin when administered in concordance with a high fat diet.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsDisease Models, AnimalFemaleGastrointestinal MicrobiomeGlucoseMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLObesityStevia
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety80
Efficacy30/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations24
Citations/Year4.8
Relative Citation Ratio1.85
NIH Percentile72.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score1.78
Normalized Score0.59
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