NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
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Stevia (Steviol Glycosides)

E960 · Stevia rebaudiana

Plant-derived zero-calorie sweetener with a reassuring safety record at the ADI

Moderate evidence 🍬Sweeteners & Additives

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Moderate
Research weight
Citations
8 verified / 8
Classification
Sweeteners & Additives
❝
What the evidence says. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent.

What is Stevia (Steviol Glycosides)?

Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) (E960 · Stevia rebaudiana) is a sweetener or food additive used for zero-calorie, high-intensity sweetness (~200-400x sucrose) for sugar reduction. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Moderate. Stevia (steviol glycosides, E960) is a high-intensity, non-nutritive sweetener extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (or produced by fermentation), 200-400 times sweeter than sucrose with negligible calories. It is authorized in the EU, holds GRAS status for high-purity glycosides in the US, and carries a JECFA/EFSA Acceptable Daily Intake of 4 mg/kg body weight/day (as steviol equivalents). The weight of human and toxicological evidence is reassuring: regulators consistently find it non-genotoxic and non-carcinogenic, and trials show it has little-to-no acute glycemic or insulin impact. However, the WHO 2023 guideline advises against non-sugar sweeteners generally for long-term weight control, and long-term cardiometabolic data specific to stevia remain limited.

Purported Benefits

✓Zero-calorie, high-intensity sweetness (~200-400x sucrose) for sugar reduction
✓Minimal-to-no acute postprandial glucose or insulin rise (steviol glycosides are not absorbed intact)
✓Non-glycemic — suitable for diabetic and low-carbohydrate diets
✓Heat- and pH-stable, so usable in baking and acidic beverages
✓Does not promote dental caries (non-fermentable by oral bacteria)
✓Plant-derived/'natural' origin, a key marketing and reformulation driver

Dosing & Compounds

Typical Dose
EU authorized food additive (E960). US: FDA accepts GRAS notices for high-purity (>=95%) steviol glycosides; whole-leaf/crude stevia extract is NOT FDA-approved as a food additive. JECFA established an ADI of 4 mg/kg body weight/day (as steviol equivalents) at its 69th meeting (2008) and reaffirmed it at the 82nd meeting (2016); EFSA set the same 4 mg/kg bw/day ADI in 2010. In its 2024 re-evaluation, EFSA reviewed proposals to raise the ADI to 6 or 16 mg/kg bw/day but concluded there was insufficient justification, retaining 4 mg/kg bw/day. The 4 mg/kg figure incorporates a 100-fold safety factor over the NOAEL from a 2-year rat carcinogenicity study.
Active Compounds
E-number E960 (steviol glycosides); newer fermentation-derived grades designated E960a-dCommon branded retail products: Truvia, PureVia, SweetLeaf, Stevia in the Raw, Splenda Naturals SteviaKey glycosides: stevioside, rebaudioside A (Reb A), and high-purity rebaudioside M (Reb M)Found in: diet/zero soft drinks, flavored waters, yogurts, tabletop sweeteners, protein bars, baked goods, and sugar-free confectioneryOften blended with erythritol, monk fruit, or other bulking agents in tabletop formulations

Safety & Cautions

Regulators (EFSA 2010, JECFA 2008/2016) consistently conclude high-purity steviol glycosides are non-genotoxic and non-carcinogenic; Reb A was negative across the Ames test, chromosomal aberration, and mouse lymphoma assays. Steviol glycosides are not absorbed intact — gut bacteria hydrolyze them to steviol, which is then conjugated and excreted, with no evidence of accumulation. Human gut-microbiome RCTs (4-week and 12-week) found no significant changes in microbiota diversity versus control. The main caveats are population-level, not stevia-specific: EFSA's 2024 assessment flagged that 95th-percentile exposure can approach or exceed the ADI in infants and toddlers under expanded uses, and the WHO 2023 guideline advises against non-sugar sweeteners (stevia included) for body-weight control or NCD prevention, citing possible associations with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality drawn largely from observational data (reverse causation likely). Long-term stevia-specific cardiometabolic trials are sparse. No established allergenicity concern for purified glycosides; people sensitive to Asteraceae plants are occasionally cautioned about crude leaf preparations. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) with any medicine.

Key Studies

meta-analysis Thongmee et al. 2024 (J Nutr Sci) ✓ Source
Meta-analysis of stevia trials reported no significant effect on fasting blood glucose or HbA1c versus control.
regulatory EFSA 2024 (E 960a-d) ✓ Source
Reviewed proposals to raise the ADI to 6 or 16 mg/kg bw/day but found insufficient justification, retaining the 4 mg/kg bw/day ADI and flagging exposure near the ADI in infants/toddlers under expanded uses.
meta-analysis Ajami et al. 2020 (Nutrients) ✓ Full text
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 RCTs (n=462) found a significant systolic BP reduction (MD -6.32 mmHg) but non-significant effects on fasting glucose, HbA1c, BMI, and lipids.
guideline WHO 2023 NSS Guideline ✓ Source
Reviewed >280 studies and advised against non-sugar sweeteners (including stevia) for weight control, citing no long-term body-fat benefit and possible associations with type 2 diabetes, CVD, and mortality.
regulatory JECFA 2008/2016 ✓ Source
Established and later reaffirmed an ADI of 4 mg/kg body weight/day for steviol glycosides (as steviol equivalents), based on a 2-year rat NOAEL with a 100-fold safety factor.
RCT Williams et al. 2024 (J Nutr) ✓ PubMed
4-week RCT in healthy adults comparing a daily steviol-glycoside beverage (25% ADI) with a 30 g sucrose beverage found no adverse impact on the gut microbiome.
RCT Williams et al. 2024 (Nutrients) ✓ Source
12-week consumption of stevia in healthy adults did not alter alpha or beta diversity or taxa abundance of the gut microbiota relative to controls.
regulatory EFSA ANS Panel 2010 ✓ Source
Concluded high-purity steviol glycosides meeting JECFA specifications are not genotoxic or carcinogenic and set an ADI of 4 mg/kg bw/day.
8 sources cited · 8 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about Stevia (Steviol Glycosides)

What is Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) used for?

Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) is most often taken for Zero-calorie, high-intensity sweetness (~200-400x sucrose) for sugar reduction, Minimal-to-no acute postprandial glucose or insulin rise (steviol glycosides are not absorbed intact), Non-glycemic — suitable for diabetic and low-carbohydrate diets, Heat- and pH-stable, so usable in baking and acidic beverages. Plant-derived zero-calorie sweetener with a reassuring safety record at the ADI

Does Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) work — what does the evidence say?

Moderate evidence. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent. Stevia (steviol glycosides, E960) is a high-intensity, non-nutritive sweetener extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (or produced by fermentation), 200-400 times sweeter than sucrose with negligible calories. It is authorized in the EU, holds GRAS status for high-purity glycosides in the US, and carries a JECFA/EFSA Acceptable Daily Intake of 4 mg/kg body weight/day (as steviol equivalents). The weight of human and toxicological evidence is reassuring: regulators consistently find it non-genotoxic and non-carcinogenic, and trials show it has little-to-no acute glycemic or insulin impact. However, the WHO 2023 guideline advises against non-sugar sweeteners generally for long-term weight control, and long-term cardiometabolic data specific to stevia remain limited.

What is the typical dose of Stevia (Steviol Glycosides)?

EU authorized food additive (E960). US: FDA accepts GRAS notices for high-purity (>=95%) steviol glycosides; whole-leaf/crude stevia extract is NOT FDA-approved as a food additive. JECFA established an ADI of 4 mg/kg body weight/day (as steviol equivalents) at its 69th meeting (2008) and reaffirmed it at the 82nd meeting (2016); EFSA set the same 4 mg/kg bw/day ADI in 2010. In its 2024 re-evaluation, EFSA reviewed proposals to raise the ADI to 6 or 16 mg/kg bw/day but concluded there was insufficient justification, retaining 4 mg/kg bw/day. The 4 mg/kg figure incorporates a 100-fold safety factor over the NOAEL from a 2-year rat carcinogenicity study.

Is Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) safe? Any cautions or side effects?

Regulators (EFSA 2010, JECFA 2008/2016) consistently conclude high-purity steviol glycosides are non-genotoxic and non-carcinogenic; Reb A was negative across the Ames test, chromosomal aberration, and mouse lymphoma assays. Steviol glycosides are not absorbed intact — gut bacteria hydrolyze them to steviol, which is then conjugated and excreted, with no evidence of accumulation. Human gut-microbiome RCTs (4-week and 12-week) found no significant changes in microbiota diversity versus control. The main caveats are population-level, not stevia-specific: EFSA's 2024 assessment flagged that 95th-percentile exposure can approach or exceed the ADI in infants and toddlers under expanded uses, and the WHO 2023 guideline advises against non-sugar sweeteners (stevia included) for body-weight control or NCD prevention, citing possible associations with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality drawn largely from observational data (reverse causation likely). Long-term stevia-specific cardiometabolic trials are sparse. No established allergenicity concern for purified glycosides; people sensitive to Asteraceae plants are occasionally cautioned about crude leaf preparations.

How many studies support Stevia (Steviol Glycosides)?

NutriDex cites 8 sources for Stevia (Steviol Glycosides), graded "Moderate".

Cite this page
APA

Peh, D. (2026). Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) (E960 · Stevia rebaudiana): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 26 Jun 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/stevia

BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_stevia,
  author       = {Peh, Daryl},
  title        = {Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) (E960 · Stevia rebaudiana): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
  url          = {https://nutridex.info/s/stevia},
  note         = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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