When female rats drank stevia water from a young age, they had trouble getting pregnant, had fewer babies, and had more girl babies than boy babies.

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Pro

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Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

11

Community contributions welcome

11

Early consumption of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni on rat females: actions on their fertility, progeny and behavior.

Cohort Study

Animal

2025 Jun

The study gave female rats stevia water from a young age and found they had trouble getting pregnant, had fewer babies, and had more girl babies than boy babies—exactly what the claim says.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Early consumption of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni on rat females: actions on their fertility, progeny and behavior.

Score: 11

DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.04.023

Similar Assertions

When female rats drank stevia from a young age, they had trouble reproducing, acted differently around other rats, and seemed less scared — which makes scientists wonder if it’s safe for growing animals.

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92%

The longer the rats drank stevia before getting pregnant, the longer their pregnancies lasted, they had fewer babies, but the babies they did have were heavier at birth.

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91%

Even though the stevia-drinking rats ate and drank the same amount as others, they weighed less during mid-pregnancy.

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77%

Rats that drank stevia didn’t prefer male rats as much, seemed less nervous in new places, but were more cautious and took longer to explore.

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76%

Stevia consumption at dietary-relevant doses significantly reduces fertility rates in mammalian models by disrupting hormonal regulation of reproductive function.

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73%