Study Links Xylitol to Increased Cardiovascular Risk
A new study presented this week at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Germany has linked higher blood levels of xylitol, a popular artificial sweetener, to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The research, which analyzed data from more than 17,700 participants, found that people with the highest xylitol levels faced significantly greater risks of major adverse cardiovascular events.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used as a lower-calorie sweetener and found naturally in small amounts in some fruits and vegetables. It is commonly added to sugar-free gum, mints, candy, baked goods, drinks, toothpaste, and mouthwash, as reported by Gulf Coast News and Weather.
The Findings
The study followed two large cohorts: the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and the EPIC-Norfolk group in the UK. In the Canadian group, participants with the highest xylitol levels had a 57% higher risk of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke related to cardiovascular events over a six-year follow-up, compared to those with the lowest levels. In the European group, the risk was 18% higher over 30 years, according to the New York Post.
Both cohorts showed evidence of a dose-dependent association, meaning that higher blood xylitol concentrations corresponded to higher rates of cardiovascular events. The link remained after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight, as reported by Gulf Coast News and Weather.
Expert Reactions
Dr. Marco Witkowski, the study presenter from Charité University Hospital in Berlin, noted that previous studies showed xylitol can enhance the ability of platelets to form clots. "Artificial sweeteners are consumed by people who think they are healthier than sugar, and they are generally regarded as safe by regulatory agencies," he said. "Our long-term findings in the general population highlight how little we know about the cardiovascular safety of xylitol and indicate that further studies are warranted."
Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist and public health campaigner based in London, told Fox News Digital: "These disturbing findings with [a] plausible mechanism of xylitol increasing cardiovascular risk should be taken very seriously."
Professor Dan Atar of the ESC Communication Committee said the findings need to be studied further, as noted by Gulf Coast News and Weather.
Caveats
The study is observational, meaning it shows a link between xylitol levels and cardiovascular events but does not prove that xylitol causes heart attacks or strokes. The report also does not establish whether high levels of xylitol in the blood necessarily reflect dietary consumption, as the New York Post noted.
Researchers say more work is needed to understand the potential risks, particularly as xylitol use in products increases.