Study links higher blood levels of sweetener xylitol to heart attack and stroke risk
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An observational study presented at the ESC Cardiology Congress found that people with the highest blood levels of xylitol had a higher risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used in sugar-free gum, foods, drinks and dental products. The study does not prove that xylitol causes these events, and blood levels may not reflect diet, because the body also makes xylitol naturally.
A study presented at the ESC Cardiology Congress in Germany links higher blood levels of xylitol to an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used as a low-calorie sweetener in foods, drinks, chewing gum and dental care products.
Researchers followed more than 17,700 participants in two cohorts. In the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, people with the highest xylitol levels had a 57% higher risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke over six years than those with the lowest levels. In the British EPIC-Norfolk cohort, the highest levels were associated with an 18% greater risk over 30 years. Both cohorts showed a dose-dependent pattern, and the associations held after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, hypertension, diabetes and lipid levels. Earlier work by the study presenter, Dr. Marco Witkowski of Charité University Hospital in Berlin, suggested that xylitol may enhance blood clot formation.
There are important limits. The study is observational and does not show that xylitol causes cardiovascular events. It also measured blood levels rather than intake, and xylitol is produced naturally in the body during glucose metabolism, so high levels may not reflect diet. The researchers say further studies are needed.
If you regularly use xylitol-sweetened products and have heart health concerns, you can check ingredient labels and discuss your options with your doctor. This is a precaution, not an urgent warning.
What you can doAI-generated
- ✓Read every label on your diet sodas and sugar-free gum to find out if you're consuming this sweetener daily without realizing it.
- ✓Talk to your doctor about your current intake of this sweetener and ask which alternative sweeteners are safer for your heart health.
- ✓Switch to unsweetened or naturally sweetened drinks and snacks instead of assuming diet versions protect your heart.
- ✓Cut back on sweet tastes overall rather than just swapping one artificial sweetener for another.
Always consult a healthcare professional for personal medical advice.
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