Erythritol consumption has been linked to heart attack risk

A study published on Monday in natural medicine consumption of the artificial sweetener erythritol is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

The investigation, which he managed Cleveland Clinic (Ohio, United States) and conducted with more than 4,000 people in the United States and Europefound that people with higher levels of erythritol in their blood had a higher risk of a serious adverse cardiac event.

The study also confirmed that erythritol facilitates the activation of platelets – the cells responsible for stopping bleeding in the body – and therefore the formation of clots, a finding that has been observed in preclinical studies.

“Sweeteners like erythritol have quickly become fashionable in recent years, but they are essential explore further its long-term effects,” said Stanley Hazen, the study’s lead author and chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the Lerner Research Institute and co-chief of the Cardiology Service at the Cleveland Clinic.

“Cardiovascular disease accumulates over time, and heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. We need to make sure the food we eat doesn’t contribute in hidden ways,” explains Hazen.

Derived from the fermentation of corn sugar, erythritol is approximately 70% sweeter than sugar and is used as an alternative to sugar or saccharin because it provides no calories or carbohydrates.

Products with erythritol are often recommended for people with obesity, diabetes or metabolic syndrome to avoid sugar or calorie intake.

However, these people are also at increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke.

Directly into the bloodstream
After ingestion, erythritol is not metabolized, but enters the bloodstream and is excreted in the urine.

The human body naturally makes small amounts of erythritol, so any extra intake can add up.

The study warns that measuring artificial sweeteners is difficult and that labeling requirements are minimal, often not listing individual compounds.

In the case of erythritol, being a “generally recognized as safe” product by the FDA means that no long-term safety studies are required.

However, the authors believe that follow-up studies are important to confirm their findings in the general population.

“Our study shows that when participants consumed a drink artificially sweetened with the amount of erythritol found in many processed foods, their blood levels were markedly elevated for days, levels well above those thought to increase the risk of clotting,” explains Hazen. .