A recent study claims to have linked a substitute sweetener to an increased risk of “major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).”
The research study was published in Nature Medicine on January 18 and suggested that the chemical erythritol increased the risk of myocardial infarction (aka heart attack) and stroke.
Erythritol is a zero-calorie carbohydrate used as a replacement for sugar. This compound is naturally occurring and is used to produce a variety of products, such as wine, beer, and cheeses.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had previously approved the use of the sweetener in 1999, followed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001. This sweetener has also been deemed safe for consumption by diabetics as it does not affect glucose or insulin levels.
This chemical can be found in dietary and keto food options. Ketogenic diets are sometimes considered viable in reducing weight gain and cases of obesity.
According to a study on the National Library of Medicine website, research released in 2021 observed the relationship between sweeteners erythritol and xylitol and their effect on obesity. Researchers in this study, however, concluded that the sweeteners were safe to consume and did not exacerbate weight gain.
In the January 18 study, researchers observed blood samples from 1,157 cardiac risk assessment volunteers. Scientists were searching for specific chemical signatures in these blood samples, noting those who had cardiovascular issues such as heart attacks and strokes, as well as those who had died over the next three years.
The most common chemical signature found that could be associated with increased risk was erythritol. Scientists concluded that the substance was “both associated with incident MACE risk and fosters enhanced thrombosis.” Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot.
Dr. Stanley Hazen, chair of the department of cardiovascular and metabolic sciences at the Cleveland Clinic and leader of the study, told USA Today that a high content of this chemical in the bloodstream lowered the threshold needed to trigger a blood clot.
“The very group of people most vulnerable to experiencing adverse cardiac events are the ones we’re recommending these kinds of dietary foods for,” said Hazen, according to USA Today.
The researchers intend to conduct further studies to confirm these findings.
That said, Karsten Hiller, a biochemist and specialist in human metabolism at the Braunschweig Institute of Technology in Germany, said, “At the current knowledge we have, I would not recommend people use it.”
He and Hazen both said that they intend to avoid the sweetener as much as possible.