Consuming greater amounts of the popular artificial sweetener xylitol could increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, a new study suggests.
The research, presented at the ESC Cardiology Congress in Germany, indicated that higher levels of xylitol in the blood were associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Xylitol, a sugar alcohol, is commonly used as a low-calorie sweetener and sugar substitute in foods, drinks, chewing gum, and dental care products.
Researchers followed two large cohorts comprising over 17,700 Canadian and British participants. In the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, individuals with the highest xylitol levels showed a 57% higher risk of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke over a six-year follow-up compared to those with the lowest levels. Over 30 years, participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk group with the highest xylitol levels had an 18% greater risk of MACE.
Both cohorts demonstrated a dose-dependent association, where higher blood xylitol concentrations correlated with higher rates of cardiovascular events. These elevated risks persisted even after researchers adjusted for other factors such as age, gender, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and lipid levels.
Previous research has shown that xylitol can enhance the ability of platelets to form clots, according to Dr. Marco Witkowski, the study presenter from Charité University Hospital in Berlin. "Artificial sweeteners are consumed by people who think they are healthier than sugar, and they are generally regarded as safe by regulatory agencies," Witkowski stated. "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, especially as the amount of xylitol in products continues to increase."
The study was observational and does not definitively prove that xylitol causes cardiovascular events. Researchers noted that more studies are needed to confirm the findings. Additionally, the report does not establish whether high blood xylitol levels necessarily reflect dietary consumption, as the sugar alcohol can also be produced naturally in the body through glucose metabolism.
Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist and public health campaigner in London who was not involved in the study, commented on the findings. "These disturbing findings with [a] plausible mechanism of xylitol increasing cardiovascular risk should be taken very seriously," Malhotra told Fox News Digital. "As a practicing cardiologist, I see many patients suffering from anxiety and palpitations that resolve as soon as they stop taking artificial sweeteners."
Malhotra, who advocates for reducing cardiovascular risk by cutting back on sugar, advises his patients to avoid all processed sugars and artificial sweeteners for six weeks to break dependency. Fox News Digital reached out to several food and beverage trade groups for comment.