Could This Common Sweetener Help Beat Pancreatic Cancer? New Study Says Yes
You might know stevia as the natural sweetener in your coffee or tea—but scientists now think it could be turned into a powerful weapon against one of the deadliest cancers.
A team at Hiroshima University in Japan discovered that fermented stevia leaf extract can attack pancreatic cancer cells in the lab. The study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, found that when stevia is broken down by bacteria, it becomes way stronger at killing cancer cells.
Why This Matters
Pancreatic cancer is aggressive and hard to treat. Even with the best therapies, survival rates are low. So, finding new ways to fight it is a big deal.
But don’t start chugging stevia just yet—the sweetener you buy at the store doesn’t work the same way. The researchers had to ferment it in the lab to boost its cancer-fighting power.
What the Experts Say
- Dr. Paul Oberstein (NYU Langone) called the study "interesting" but warned that it’s still early. The research was done in a lab, not on humans, so we don’t know if it’s safe or effective yet.
- Dr. Kristen Arnold (Orlando Health) said this is a promising start, but more testing is needed. "Not all discoveries pan out, but this is how we find breakthroughs," she said.
Bottom Line
This doesn’t mean stevia cures cancer—but it could lead to new treatments down the road. Scientists will keep testing to see if this lab-made version can help patients.
For now, if you or a loved one is battling pancreatic cancer, doctors recommend looking into clinical trials for the latest treatments.
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What do you think? Could a simple sweetener really help fight cancer? Drop a comment below!
