Effect of Sugar Replacement with Stevia-Based Tabletop Sweetener on Weight and Cardiometabolic Health among Indian Adults

Added sugars contribute to caloric intake in the diet, which may lead to conditions like obesity. Replacing added sugar with a natural sugar substitute like zero-calorie stevia may help in reducing sugar and caloric intake. Methods: An open-label, single-arm pilot study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a stevia-based tabletop sweetener among overweight subjects with normal blood sugar levels (n = 24) and overweight prediabetic subjects (n = 21). Subjects were instructed to replace added sugar in their daily diet with the test product over a study period of 90 days. Primary outcomes included change in body weight and waist circumference, while the secondary outcomes included change in blood glucose (PPBG), body mass index (BMI), and lipid parameters evaluated at baseline, 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was evaluated at baseline and 90 days. Results: When compared with the baseline, a significant reduction in weight (p p p p n = 35) weight loss and 4.78 cm (n = 32) reduction in waist circumference were observed at 90 days. No adverse outcomes were reported throughout the study period. The consumption of steviol glycosides was within the acceptable daily intake (ADI). Conclusions: Replacing added sugar in the daily diet with stevia-based tabletop sweetener, along with a physical activity regimen, promotes weight loss and reduction in waist circumference in overweight subjects with normal blood sugar levels and prediabetic subjects (CTRI/2019/12/022470)

Effect of a Novel Sugar Blend on Weight and Cardiometabolic Health among Healthy Indian Adults: A Randomized, Open-Label Study

Obesity is one of the major factors contributing to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which is associated with a high intake of a sugar-rich diet. Sugar blend (a novel combination of sugar and stevia) has half the calories of sugar with the same sweetness at recommended use and offers better compliance. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this sugar blend in normal to mildly overweight subjects with a body mass index (BMI) of 23–26 kg/m. Sixty subjects were categorized into Group A: Sugar group (n = 30), and Group B: Sugar blend group (n = 30). The primary outcomes evaluated were weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist/hip ratio, BMI, and the secondary outcomes evaluated were lipid profile, random blood sugar, and HbA1c. All these parameters were assessed at baseline, 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. Group B showed a significantly higher weight loss (p = 0.013) at 90 days compared with Group A. A significant reduction in waist circumference (p < 0.0001) by 4.4 cm was noted at 90 days, in addition to reduction in total cholesterol (p < 0.0001), triglyceride (p = 0.006), LDL cholesterol (p = 0.0490), and VLDL cholesterol (p = 0.006) in Group B compared with the baseline. The study revealed that the sugar blend is an effective formulation in reducing weight, anthropometric factors, and other related metabolic parameters. It has been proven to be well tolerated and promotes weight loss when used in conjunction with a daily balanced diet and exercise plan