Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have discovered that higher concentrations of the sugar alcohol Xylitol are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular incidents such as heart attacks and strokes.
Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., spearheaded the research, which was corroborated through extensive patient analysis, animal research models, and a clinical intervention study. The results were published in the European Heart Journal today.
Xylitol is widely used as a sugar replacement in sugar-free confections, chewing gums, baked items, and dental products like toothpaste. Over the last ten years, there has been a notable rise in the use of sugar alternatives in processed foods marketed as healthy options, including sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners.
The same team of researchers previously identified a similar correlation between erythritol and cardiovascular risk. Although Xylitol is not as commonly used as erythritol in keto and sugar-free products in the U.S., it is frequently found in other nations.
Dr. Hazen, who holds the position of Chair of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute and also serves as Co-Section Head of Preventive Cardiology at the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, emphasized the urgent need to investigate sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners further. He noted that while these findings do not suggest discarding toothpaste containing Xylitol, they do indicate that high consumption of products containing Xylitol could raise the risk of events related to blood clots.
In their latest study, the researchers observed that elevated Xylitol levels in the bloodstream were associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events over three years, based on data from over 3,000 patients across the U.S. and Europe. Individuals with the highest levels of Xylitol in their plasma were significantly more likely to suffer a cardiovascular event. The findings were validated through preclinical tests, which showed that Xylitol increased platelet clotting and the risk of thrombosis. Additionally, the study monitored platelet activity in individuals who consumed a Xylitol-sweetened beverage compared to those who drank a glucose-sweetened beverage, revealing a significant increase in clotting potential immediately after consuming the Xylitol but not the glucose.
More information: Marco Witkowski et al, Xylitol is prothrombotic and associated with cardiovascular risk, European Heart Journal. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae244
Journal information: European Heart Journal Provided by Cleveland Clinic
