Bitter disappointment for another popular artificial sweetener! The study finds that it significantly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke

The results of a new American study underscore the need for more research into the health effects of commonly used sugar substitutes.
A recent study has raised concerns about xylitol, a popular sweetener in sugar-free drinks, chewing gum and toothpaste, linking it to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Advertised as a low-carb, natural, and keto-friendly supplement, xylitol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in fruits and vegetables, but in much smaller amounts than in commercial products. It can also be synthesized from plant materials.

In 2023, Stanley Hazen of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio discovered the link between erythritol, another sweetener, and cardiovascular risks. Interested in the effects of xylitol on heart health, Hazen conducted a study involving 3,306 adults in the United States and Europe.

1000 times increase in xylitol levels in 30 minutes

His team analyzed participants’ blood samples taken after an overnight fast to measure xylitol levels. Over three years, they found that participants with the highest levels of xylitol were one-third more likely to experience cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke.

To understand this correlation, scientists studied the effects of xylitol on human blood cells and mice, and their research is published in the European Heart Journal.

Platelets, which stop bleeding by clotting at sites of injury, can also form clots in blood vessels, impeding blood flow to the heart and brain. Laboratory tests have shown that human platelets are more prone to clotting when exposed to xylitol. In mice, injections of xylitol led to faster clot formation in veins.

Further testing involved giving water sweetened with xylitol to ten people. Within 30 minutes, participants experienced a 1,000-fold increase in blood plasma xylitol levels, with a corresponding increase in platelet clotting activity, especially in those with the highest baseline xylitol levels.

Research Implications
This study again demonstrates the urgent need for research on sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners. That doesn’t mean throwing out your toothpaste if it contains xylitol, but we should be aware that consuming a product that contains high levels can increase the risk of blood clotting events, Hazen stresses.
Silvija Radenkovic of the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands, who was not involved in the research, commented on the findings, noting that they highlight the need for systematic studies of the effects of artificial sweeteners on cardiovascular risks.

Source: New Scientist