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New study links artificial sweetener to heart attack, stroke risk
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- A study by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) found a link between the artificial sweetener xylitol and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, with higher blood levels of xylitol correlating to greater risk in both Canadian and European populations.
- In the Canadian cohort, individuals with the highest xylitol levels had a 57% increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, while in the European cohort, the risk was 18% higher, even after adjusting for common cardiovascular risk factors.
- Xylitol is widely used as a sugar substitute in oral care products, sugar-free foods, and beverages, often in concentrations much higher than naturally occurring levels in foods.
- The study's lead presenter, Dr. Marco Witkowski, emphasized the need for further research on the cardiovascular safety of xylitol, especially as its use in consumer products continues to rise.
- These findings challenge the common perception that artificial sweeteners like xylitol are inherently safer than sugar and highlight gaps in current knowledge regarding their long-term health effects.
