Sains Malaysiana 43(5)(2014): 649–654

Effect of Acute Stevia Consumption on Blood Glucose Response in Healthy Malay Young Adults

(Kesan Pengambilan Stevia Akut ke atas Tindak Balas Glukosa Darah dalam Kalangan Orang Melayu Dewasa yang Sihat)

NORAZLANSHAH HAZALI*¹, AZIZAH MOHAMED¹, MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM¹, MASHITA MASRI¹, KHAIRIL ANUAR MD ISA², NORAZMIR MD NOR², MOHD KHAN AYOB³& FAZLYLA NADYA MOHD FADZLAN¹

¹Department of Nutrition Sciences, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

²Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus

42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, D.E. Malaysia

³School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology, Department of Food Science, Faculty of

Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, D.E. Malaysia

Diserahkan: 6 Disember 2012/Diterima: 31 Julai 2013

ABSTRACT

Previously, researchers had initiated investigation to find an alternative drug that can treat diabetes mellitus without dragging patients into more complicated health problems. After many studies, they found a new and high potential plant-based drug named stevia that is able to reduce diabetic patients’ blood glucose. This study aimed to determine the effect of stevia on blood glucose of healthy subjects. The study was carried out by comparing the glycemic response between sucrose and stevia (500 and 1000 mg) among 32 subjects aged between 18 and 23 years old. Subjects were required to fast 8 to 10 h prior to each test which was done on different days. Finger prick test were done on 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min to construct a blood sugar response curve for 2 h period. There is a significant difference between the glycemic response of sucrose and stevia 500 mg. Sucrose significantly increased the post prandial blood glucose while stevia 500 mg reduced blood glucose after 30 min of consumption. Sucrose also produced higher glycemic response at min-30 when compared with stevia 1000 mg. There is no significant difference between the glycemic response of stevia of different dose, 500 and 1000 mg. No dose-dependent effect was observed in this study. In conclusion, stevia does not raise blood glucose significantly when consumed in short period. Stevia is effective to be used by healthy people to maintain blood glucose even when consumed in short length of time.

Keywords: Glycemic response; natural sweetener; stevia rebaudiana

ABSTRAK

Sebelum ini, para penyelidik telah menjalankan kajian bagi mencari ubat alternatif yang mampu merawat diabetes melitus tanpa menyebabkan masalah kesihatan yang lebih rumit dalam kalangan pesakit. Kajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk menentukan kesan stevia ke atas kandungan glukosa dalam darah subjek sihat. Kajian ini telah dijalankan dengan membandingkan tindak balas glisemik antara sukrosa dengan stevia (500 dan 1000 mg) dalam kalangan 32 subjek berumur 18 hingga 23 tahun. Subjek dikehendaki berpuasa 8 hingga 10 jam sebelum setiap ujian dijalankan. Ujian cucuk jari telah dijalankan pada min 0, 30, 60, 90 dan 120 untuk membina lengkuk tindak balas gula dalam darah dalam tempoh dua jam. Terdapat perbezaan yang bererti antara tindak balas glisemik dengan stevia 500 mg. Sukrosa meningkatkan glukosa darah pos prandial secara signifikan sementara stevia 500 mg menurunkan glukosa darah selepas 30 min pengambilan. Sukrosa juga menghasilkan tindak balas glisemik pada min ke 30 berbanding stevia 1000 mg. Tiada perbezaan yang signifikan antara tindak balas glisemik stevia yang berlainan dos, 500 dan 1000 mg. Tiada kesan kebergantungan kepada dos diperhatikan dalam kajian ini. Kesimpulannya, stevia tidak meningkatkan glukosa darah dengan signifikan apabila diambil dalam tempoh masa yang singkat.Stevia adalah efektif untuk digunakan oleh individu sihat yang mahu mengawal glukosa darah walaupun diambil dalam tempoh masa yang singkat.

Kata kunci: Pemanis semula jadi; stevia rebaudiana; tindak balas glisemik

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: norazlanshah@iium.edu.my