A sweetener low-calorie sweetener used in many common products such as chewing gum and toothpaste is linked to nearly double the risk of heart attack, stroke and death when consumed in large amounts, finds study.

This sweetener is xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol found in small amounts in many fruits and vegetables. It has a chemical structure similar to sugar but contains fewer calories. Over the past decade, the use of xylitol and other sugar substitutes has exploded as consumers look for healthier options.

“We gave healthy volunteers a standard xylitol drink to see how high the levels would go and found that increased 1,000 times“said lead study author Dr. Stanley Hazen, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Prevention at the Cleveland Clinic, Lerner.

“When you eat sugar, your glucose levels may go up 10% or 20%, but not 1,000-fold,” said Hazen, who also directs Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Microbiome and Human Health.

In 2023, the same research team reached similar conclusions about another sweetener called erythritol. Further research in animals revealed that erythritol and xylitol can cause platelets to clot. Clots can travel to the heart, causing a heart attack, or to the brain, causing a stroke.

The researchers analyzed 1,157 blood samples from people who had been evaluated for heart disease between 2004 and 2011. They also looked at another batch of blood samples from more than 2,100 people who were possibly at high risk of developing heart disease. They found that sweeteners such as xylitol and erythritol had an impact on cardiovascular function.

What the new study showed

The researchers analyzed data from more than 3,000 patients in the US and Europe. They found that people with the highest levels of xylitol in their blood were 33% more likely to experience a heart attack within three years compared to people who had the lowest levels.

In the new xylitol study, “differences in platelet behavior were observed even when a person consumed a moderate amount of xylitol contained in a standard drink,” said Dr. Matthew Tomei, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Foster Heart, who was not involved in the study.

“These experiments are interesting, but they do not prove that platelet abnormalities are responsible for the association between xylitol and clinical events,” Tomei pointed out.

“This study again shows the urgent need to investigate sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners, especially as they continue to be recommended to fight diseases such as obesity or diabetes,” noted Dr. Hazen.

“This doesn’t mean you should throw out your toothpaste if it contains xylitol, but you should be aware that consuming a product that contains high levels can increase your risk of blood clot-related events,” Hazen added.

In 2023, Mr World Health Organisation advised consumers to avoid artificial sweeteners for weight loss and called for further research into the long-term toxicity of low- or no-calorie sweeteners.

However, while this study provides important information about the potential risks associated with xylitol consumption, it is important to note that the research demonstrates an association rather than a direct cause and effect relationship. The researchers noted that more studies are needed to evaluate the long-term safety of xylitol.

The study was published in the European Heart Journal

SOURCE: CNN