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kimmonsen

Stevia against Osteoporosis?

kimmonsen
15 years ago

I found a site that claim Stevia (not the white sweetener powder but the ground leaves and stems) can be a powerful medicine against osteoporosis (brittle bones)

Apparently it is some patent.

Here is a link that might be useful: Stevia against Osteoporosis

Comments (2)

  • brendan_of_bonsai
    15 years ago

    It doesn't seem like egg shell breakage is going to be highly applicable to bone strength. To my knowledge shell weakeners like DDT do so by making the calcium unavailable for the eggs, not letting the birds release it from their bones as effectively; if Stevia allowed the bones to give up calcium more easily then it would make the eggs stronger, but the bones dramatically weaker. In addition the Steviaincreased calcium in the muscle of pigs, which means that its not being sequestered in the bones as much. Either this is affecting the digestive uptake of Ca++ or the kidneys reuptake of Ca++ (we have no proof of either of these) or Stevia is likely to cause osteoporosis. More study is needed I think.

    I also think that you should cross post this in the farm life forum however, I'm sure they would love this information.

  • rusty_blackhaw
    15 years ago

    The "nutritionist" says in the linked website that osteoporosis "is almost unknown in Japan", supposedly because of Japanese use of Stevia. The reality is that osteoporosis is common in Japan.

    It is also claimed that Stevia should work against osteoporosis because of patents taken out on it, although the only one described has to do with eggshells. brendan has pointed out that supposedly lower eggshell breakage does not mean that Stevia will prevent osteoporosis in humans. Something else to consider is whether, if in fact using lots of Stevia makes bones denser, will this translate to better health? There's a controversial anti-osteoporosis drug, Fosamax, that works by making bones denser. Unfortunately there's evidence that at least in a small number of patients, denser bone in the jaw doesn't always get enough blood flow and serious necrosis of the jaw has been reported. Maybe we should wait for clinical studies on Stevia's safety as an osteoporosis treatment, before gulping down large quantities of the stuff to protect our bones?

    Sarah the Nutritionist's website is just a bit out of date, since the FDA has approved Stevia as a sweetener. Maybe now she'll tone down some of her conspiracy-mongering (check out the nonsense about Codex Alimentarius and Aspartame Is A Poison OMG!).

    Another thought - we often hear from alt med advocates that herbs and other "natural" substances are not commercially developed because they can't be patented. If Sarah the Nutritionist is to be believed, a bunch of patents have been taken out on Stevia, an herb. How could this have happened? :)

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