A new study suggests that artificial sweeteners may raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A new study suggests that artificial sweeteners may raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.


A new study suggests that artificial sweeteners may raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. Consumption of the common sweetener erythritol has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. (Photo by Siriporn Kaenseeya/EyeEm/Getty Images) In spite of its low calorie count, a popular sugar substitute has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Known by its scientific name erythritol, this sugar substitute is found in trace amounts in a variety of plants (including grapes and mushrooms) and is also manufactured in factories for use in processed foods. In particular, it is used to sweeten "keto" products, which are high in fat and low in carbohydrates, because of its low calorie and carbohydrate counts. Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio evaluated more than 4,000 Americans and Europeans undergoing cardiac evaluation, and they found that those with the highest blood concentration of the artificial sweetener were at an increased risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke in the following three years, as reported by The New York Times. The study was published on February 27 in Nature Medicine(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab). Notably, the vast majority of participants either had preexisting cardiovascular disease or showed risk factors for developing cardiac issues in the future, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. In controlled laboratory settings, erythritol increased the clotting time by increasing the activity of platelets, the blood cells responsible for sticking together to form clots. Additionally, the group reported that erythritol-injected mice healed faster after injury compared to saline-injected mice. Humans who drank an erythritol-sweetened beverage had elevated levels of the sweetener in their blood within hours, which persisted for two days and could have an effect on blood clotting, according to the authors. The study found that an increase in clotting can reduce blood flow, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. "Every way we looked at it, it kept showing the same signal," Hazen told The New York Times. Connected Content — Studies suggest that sleeping with the light on may increase your risk of heart disease and high blood sugar. Why do more people have heart attacks in the winter? Heart specialist Dr. Do animals also suffer from heart attacks? There were, however, some caveats to the study that should be taken into account. For example, many of the participants were over the age of 60 and had preexisting heart disease, putting them at a higher risk for cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. While this study did find a link between erythritol and clot formation, it did not find that erythritol itself was responsible for the adverse health effects observed in humans (strokes and heart attacks). Greg Neely(opens in new tab), a professor of functional genomics at the University of Sydney who was not involved in the study, told The Washington Post, "[This study] is extremely important, and it will likely trigger immediate changes in what we consume" (opens in new tab). "Just because something is sold as 'natural,' doesn't mean it is safe or good for us to consume on an industrial scale." "We don't fully understand what the health consequences of industrialized food have been."

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Consumption of the common sweetener erythritol has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. (Photo by Siriporn Kaenseeya/EyeEm/Getty Images)


In spite of its low calorie count, a popular sugar substitute has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.



Known by its scientific name erythritol, this sugar substitute is found in trace amounts in a variety of plants (including grapes and mushrooms) and is also manufactured in factories for use in processed foods. In particular, it is used to sweeten "keto" products, which are high in fat and low in carbohydrates, because of its low calorie and carbohydrate counts.



Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio evaluated more than 4,000 Americans and Europeans undergoing cardiac evaluation, and they found that those with the highest blood concentration of the artificial sweetener were at an increased risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke in the following three years, as reported by The New York Times. The study was published on February 27 in Nature Medicine(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab). Notably, the vast majority of participants either had preexisting cardiovascular disease or showed risk factors for developing cardiac issues in the future, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Follow Info Report for more useful information.

In controlled laboratory settings, erythritol increased the clotting time by increasing the activity of platelets, the blood cells responsible for sticking together to form clots. Additionally, the group reported that erythritol-injected mice healed faster after injury compared to saline-injected mice. Humans who drank an erythritol-sweetened beverage had elevated levels of the sweetener in their blood within hours, which persisted for two days and could have an effect on blood clotting, according to the authors.



The study found that an increase in clotting can reduce blood flow, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.



"Every way we looked at it, it kept showing the same signal," Hazen told The New York Times.


Connected Content — Studies suggest that sleeping with the light on may increase your risk of heart disease and high blood sugar.

Follow Info Report for more useful information.

Why do more people have heart attacks in the winter? Heart specialist Dr.



Do animals also suffer from heart attacks?


There were, however, some caveats to the study that should be taken into account. For example, many of the participants were over the age of 60 and had preexisting heart disease, putting them at a higher risk for cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. While this study did find a link between erythritol and clot formation, it did not find that erythritol itself was responsible for the adverse health effects observed in humans (strokes and heart attacks).

Follow Info Report for more useful information.

ty of Sydney who was not involved in the study, told The Washington Post, "[This study] is extremely important, and it will likely trigger immediate changes in what we consume" (opens in new tab). "Just because something is sold as 'natural,' doesn't mean it is safe or good for us to consume on an industrial scale." "We don't fully understand what the health consequences of industrialized food have been."

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