Monk Fruit Extract
A sweetener from luo han guo, sweet because of its mogrosides. It does not raise blood glucose, but there is almost no human trial evidence for any benefit beyond replacing sugar.
Evidence last reviewed: August 2026
What the science says
- No postprandial glucose or insulin rise Moderate evidence
In a randomised crossover trial, a monk fruit-sweetened beverage produced no rise in postprandial glucose or insulin compared with a sucrose-sweetened drink, and did not increase energy intake at the following meal.
- No trials of health outcomes Limited evidence
Beyond acute sweetener-substitution studies, monk fruit extract has essentially no randomised human trials. Antioxidant and metabolic claims rest on cell and animal work, and umbrella reviews of no-calorie sweeteners cover it only indirectly.
Dosage & safety
Studied doseUsed to taste as a sugar substitute; no therapeutic dose exists. Commercial powders are usually mogroside V blended with erythritol as a bulking agent.
SafetyRegarded as safe as a sweetener with no reported toxicity. Most retail products are mostly erythritol, which causes bloating and a laxative effect at higher intakes.
Scientific references
Where to buy
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