Stevia / Stevia rebaudiana

The Basics

What is Stevia / Stevia rebaudiana?

Sweetening agent.

Brand names for Stevia / Stevia rebaudiana

N/A

How Stevia / Stevia rebaudiana is classified

Plants, Medicinal, Sweetening Agents

Stevia / Stevia rebaudiana During Pregnancy

Stevia / Stevia rebaudiana pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Stevia / Stevia rebaudiana while pregnant

N/A

Taking Stevia / Stevia rebaudiana While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Stevia / Stevia rebaudiana?

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) leaves contain rebaudiosides and steviosides. The stevia leaf has been studied for treating diabetes and hypertension, although results are equivocal. Stevia has no specific lactation-related uses. No data exist on the excretion of any components of stevia into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of stevia in nursing mothers or infants. Rebaudioside A is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a sweetening agent for foods by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Although risk to the breastfed infant appears to be low, an alternate artificial sweetener with more data available may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) leaves contain rebaudiosides and steviosides. The stevia leaf has been studied for treating diabetes and hypertension, although results are equivocal. Stevia has no specific lactation-related uses. No data exist on the excretion of any components of stevia into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of stevia in nursing mothers or infants. Rebaudioside A is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a sweetening agent for foods by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Although risk to the breastfed infant appears to be low, an alternate artificial sweetener with more data available may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Possible effects of Stevia / Stevia rebaudiana on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Possible alternatives to Stevia / Stevia rebaudiana

Aspartame.