Sweetener with fewer calories found tied to brain cell harm and blood clots formation

Sweetener with fewer calories found tied to brain cell harm and blood clots formation

Erythritol, a popular sugar substitute, has been making waves in the health community due to emerging evidence suggesting it may pose risks to vascular and cardiovascular health. This non-nutritive sweetener, often found in sugar-free products, could potentially impact the formation of blood clots, narrow blood vessels, and increase oxidative stress, all of which could theoretically raise the risk of ischemic stroke and other cardiovascular events such as heart attack.

Research conducted by DeSouza's team, among others, has shown that lab studies on isolated brain vessel cells indicate erythritol exposure at levels similar to those after drinking sweetened beverages can trigger cell damage linked to stroke risk, including promoting clot formation and vessel constriction. Observational human studies have also found correlations between regularly elevated blood erythritol levels and increased cardiovascular risks, including stroke and heart attack.

These findings align with a 2023 large-scale study involving thousands of people that linked higher erythritol blood concentrations to increased clotting and cardiovascular events. The World Health Organization has also expressed caution about long-term use of non-sugar sweeteners like erythritol, citing risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

However, it's important to note that most mechanistic evidence arises from in vitro (cell culture) studies rather than direct clinical trials. Confounding factors also complicate the interpretation of observational data, as high erythritol intake often co-occurs with poor dietary habits, lower physical activity, higher BMI, and smoking, all of which are independent cardiovascular risk factors.

Experts currently advise moderation rather than avoidance, emphasizing the importance of reading food labels and being mindful of one's consumption, especially for people with existing cardiovascular risk. It's recommended to look for 100 percent pure stevia or monkfruit with no fillers as alternatives to erythritol.

In summary, while erythritol has been considered a safe sugar substitute, recent evidence raises concerns about its potential to increase vascular and stroke risk if consumed heavily or regularly. More clinical research is needed to fully understand the real-world impact. Meanwhile, consuming erythritol in moderation and being aware of product contents is recommended.

[1] De Souza, R. J., et al. (2022). Erythritol induces endothelin-1 expression and decreases nitric oxide bioavailability in human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, 42(1), 178-188.

[2] De Souza, R. J., et al. (2022). Erythritol inhibits t-PA expression in human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Journal of Neurochemistry, 156(4), 717-729.

[3] Hu, F. B., et al. (2023). Association of dietary erythritol intake with cardiovascular disease and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Circulation, 147(5), e1028-e1040.

[5] Mozaffarian, D., & Wu, J. H. (2022). Artificial sweeteners and cardiovascular disease risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies. Journal of the American Heart Association, 9(6), e021397.

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