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In an attempt to lower my sugar intake, I have added Stevia (also known as Purvia) to my diet. It is mainly my intake of SOBE WATER (0 calorie) that has me concerned.
I have experienced Gout for several years now, but it usually comes only once per year and stays for less than a week. My doctor thinks my gout is very diet driven (as it occurs mainly after I can point to eating specific foods not usually on my diet… like wine, bratwurst, etc.)
Does anyone know if Stevia – a natural sugar that is a plant extract from the stevia leaf (a member of the chrysanthemum family) has any effect on Gout?
Also, what effect does sugar have?
Thanks,
Newbee — Active gal
Neither stevia, aspartame, sucralose or even sugar has any effect on gout…or at least none that is currently known.
But indirectly, anything that helps prevent us getting overweight is a benefit.
Do other Gout Sufferers take Stevia as a Sweetener?
I use Stevia as a sweetener in my morning coffee and my afternoon lemonade/tart cherry juice “cocktail”. Does anyone else here use Stevia? Here's a link to the Wikipedia page on it.
My Dr recommends Stevia because I have a liver disease (NASH) that is aggravated by sugar and artificial sweeteners. I've been using Stevia in moderation for about 5 years and my liver enzymes are low and my condition is stable.
Anyone else here use Stevia as a sweetener?
Sorry, but misinformtion drive me crazy.? I think you spelled the name wrong but, Purvia is not Stevia.? You can not buy (pure) Stevia in the grocery store;?its in health food stores, ?also if it says it a “sweetener” it is not (pure) Stevia.? By law Stevia can only be labeled a suppliment. There are a number of products on the market with some form of Stevia in it, but these are mostly other chemical sweetners with the extract added.? Just read the lable, if it say anything other than Stevia……its not.
Oh, a Stevia is not a sugar….its a herb that happens to be sweet.
I hope this help in your fact finding mission.
@Tensia I assume you are referring to Pure Via. This is one of many brands that use extracts from the stevia herb. Purists might argue that the stevia herb is better than extracts from it, but that would depend on the context of their claims.
The context of this stevia discussion is gout, and there are two aspects to this discussion.
Gout sufferers interested in stevia are likely to be seeking to lose weight. Excess calorie intake is bad for gout, therefore, as noted by @zip2play, stevia may help gout indirectly, if it helps overweight gout sufferers lose weight. Obviously this applies to all products that help weight loss, but we must also consider specific properties of those products. The specific properties that gout sufferers are interested in is the effect, if any, on uric acid, and on inflammation.
There is very little meaningful research in this area, and I have so far found only one relevant investigation. I thought I had found a second relevant gout study, but although A double-blind placebo-controlled study of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside in human hypertension mentions that uric acid tests are included in its methods, confusingly, it does not give any results. This leads me to believe that the effects are not significant.
The confusion continues in the one relevant report that I have found. Immune up regulatory response of a non-caloric natural sweetener, stevioside contains the claim:
Leaves of Stevia rebaudiana are a source of several sweet glycosides of steviol. The major glycoside, stevioside, diterpenoid glycoside–is used in oriental countries as a food sweetener. Its medical use is also reported as a heart tonic. Besides, it is used against obesity, hypertension, and stomach burn and to lower uric acid levels.
Well, I’ve searched extensively for any connection between stevia and uric acid, and
I can find nothing. If anyone has access to the full version of this study, please check for me to see if the uric acid lowering claims are justified in the full report. [edited: see new research comments below]My main interest in this gout study is related to the other relevant property – inflammation. This report suggests that stevia stimulates the phagocytic function. That is the aspect of our immune system that leads to inflammation and gout pain. As white blood cells attack uric acid crystals, the phagocytic function causes white blood cells to grow and divide. This causes inflammation and pain, and it is this process that colchicine inhibits.
A healthy immune system should be good for general health. But there are other issues if you have uncontrolled gout. If you have got uric acid safe at 5 mg/dL or below, and you have maintained this for over six months without a gout flare, then you are free from the risk of gout flares, so the stevia-inflammation issue is less relevant. In any event, you should include stevia consumption when you discuss your gout treatment plan with your doctor.
Do you have any questions, experiences or opinions about stevia and gout? Then ask in the Feedback Form below.
Better still, join the discussion about Food suitable for gout and diabetes in the new gout forum. Please note, that is currently the only live discussion about stevia. But with new research, I expect there to be more gout-related stevia discussions. In any event, if you start a new topic, we can soon create a vibrant stevia, gout, and uric acid forum.Earlier in the discussion, I mentioned a lack of research about stevia, uric acid, and gout. However, that has changed. So I have now started a research project into Stevia & Uric Acid.
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Stevia and Gout
This stevia and gout discussion continues to be popular every year. Even though I’ve mentioned a more recent discussion in the new Stevia and Gout Forum below. One difference is the inclusion of Pure Via, aspartame, and other sweeteners. Pure Via has been referred to as Purvia for so long that I won’t change it now.
At this point, I would normally refer you to facts about the effects of stevia on uric acid and gout. But up until now, I haven’t written anything. That’s because, as you will see below, there was no available research for me to report on. However, that’s now changed. So stevia is on my list of topics to research (see below for more information).
For people interested in food and gout (as opposed to diet and uric acid), I recommend a GoutPal Plan for Gout Foodies (there are links to other gout management plans on that page).