Summary: New research indicates that the natural sweetener stevia can interfere with bacterial communication in the gut microbiome.
Source: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
A recent study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) suggests that stevia, a widely used natural low-calorie sweetener, may disrupt microbial communication in the gut and could contribute to gut microbial imbalance. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Molecules.
Stevia and its main sweet components—stevioside, rebaudioside A (Reb A), and the aglycon steviol—are increasingly used as sugar alternatives in food and beverage products. They are generally regarded as safe and are popular among consumers trying to reduce sugar intake. However, growing scientific attention is focusing on how these compounds affect the gut microbiome, the complex community of bacteria that supports digestion, immune function, and overall health.
The BGU team examined whether stevia extracts and specific steviol glycosides influence bacterial communication systems known as quorum sensing (QS). Quorum sensing allows bacteria to coordinate group behaviors—such as biofilm formation, virulence factor production, and metabolic cooperation—through chemical signaling molecules. In the gut, QS plays a key role in how different bacterial species interact and maintain community balance.
According to the study, exposure to a commercial stevia herbal supplement produced an inhibitory effect on bacterial QS pathways without causing direct bactericidal (killing) effects. Purified compounds—stevioside, Reb A, and steviol—were further analyzed. The researchers’ laboratory assays and computational modeling indicated that these compounds can interact with bacterial QS receptor proteins, particularly receptors associated with Gram-negative bacteria like LasR and RhlR.
Their in-silico analyses suggest differing modes of inhibition: steviol may act competitively at receptor sites, while Reb A and stevioside appear more likely to interfere with LasR-mediated signaling through a non-competitive mechanism. These interactions could blunt or alter communication among gut bacteria, potentially shifting community behavior even though the microbes themselves are not killed.
Lead researcher Dr. Karina Golberg of BGU’s Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering notes that this is an initial study and recommends further research: “This is an initial study that indicates that more research is warranted before the food industry replaces sugar and artificial sweeteners with stevia and its extracts.” The research team included Prof. Ariel Kushmaro, Dr. Karina Golberg, Prof. Robert Marks, and students Orr Share and Victor Markus from BGU, alongside Prof. Kerem Terali and Prof. Nazmi Ozer from partner institutions.
Implications for consumers and manufacturers
The findings do not show that stevia is harmful in all contexts, nor do they indicate that the sweetener kills gut bacteria. Rather, the study highlights a potential effect on bacterial signaling pathways that could alter how gut microbes coordinate. Because the gut microbiome is linked to digestion, immune responses, and metabolic health, changes to microbial communication may have downstream consequences worth exploring. The authors call for more comprehensive safety studies to determine the extent and clinical relevance of these effects, particularly as manufacturers increasingly adopt natural sweeteners to replace sugar and some artificial alternatives.
Funding and publication
The research was published in Molecules and received partial support from the Israeli Council for Higher Education. The study is available as open access under the title “Anti-Quorum Sensing Activity of Stevia Extract, Stevioside, Rebaudioside A and Their Aglycon Steviol,” by Karina Golberg and colleagues.
Abstract
Anti-Quorum Sensing Activity of Stevia Extract, Stevioside, Rebaudioside A and Their Aglycon Steviol
As governments and public health initiatives encourage reduced sugar consumption, the food industry has increased the use of sweeteners, both synthetic and natural. While some artificial sweeteners have raised health concerns, many manufacturers and consumers have turned to natural options like stevia. Despite its reputation for safety, emerging evidence suggests stevia-based compounds may affect gut microbial balance. Because microbial behavior depends heavily on quorum sensing signaling pathways, the researchers evaluated whether stevia extracts and purified steviol glycosides influence bacterial communication. The study found that a commercial stevia supplement inhibited bacterial communication without killing bacteria. Purified stevioside, Reb A, and steviol showed molecular interactions with QS receptor proteins, and computational models suggest steviol may act as a competitive inhibitor while Reb A and stevioside may inhibit LasR-mediated QS non-competitively. These results point to the need for further safety and functional studies examining how stevia-based sweeteners influence the gut microbiome.
About this microbiome research news
Source: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Contact: Andrew Lavin – Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
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