A widely used sweetener found in products such as chewing gum, toothpaste, jam, yogurt and ice cream has been associated with a higher risk of strokes, heart attacks and death.
Xylitol is a type of sugar alcohol that naturally occurs in certain foods, although usually only in very small quantities.Manufacturers also add it to many foods, drinks, and oral-care products as an artificial sweetener, sometimes at levels up to 1,000 times higher than those found naturally.
Researchers have not extensively studied the long-term effects of xylitol on human health, despite its significantly increased use.
Higher Blood Xylitol Linked to Increased Cardiovascular Risk
In the largest study of its kind, scientists discovered that people with higher levels of xylitol in their blood had a greater risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. Scientists presented the results in Munich at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), one of the world’s largest cardiovascular conferences.
Researchers analyzed data from 17,710 people, comparing the 25% who had the highest concentrations of xylitol in their blood with the 25% who had the lowest levels.
The group with the highest xylitol levels had a 57% greater likelihood of dying or experiencing a heart attack or stroke within six years compared with those with the lowest levels. Even after 30 years, their risk of experiencing one of these cardiovascular events remained 18% higher.
When the researchers also considered the groups in between, the findings suggested a dose-response relationship: as blood xylitol levels increased, so did the rate of cardiovascular events.
The increased risk remained consistent regardless of basic characteristics such as age and sex. The researchers also found that the association was independent of other factors, including body mass index, high blood pressure, diabetes and blood lipid levels, which could influence people’s tendency to consume low-calorie products.
Dr Marco Witkowski, a study author from Charité University Hospital in Berlin, said the findings added to previous research that had raised concerns about the potential health effects of xylitol.
Xylitol May Promote Blood Clot Formation and Cardiovascular Risk
“In earlier research, we found that xylitol may increase the ability of blood platelets to form clots,” Witkowski explained. His team also discovered that people with high levels of xylitol in their blood had a greater risk of cardiovascular events over a three-year period, particularly among those already at high risk.
He noted that many people choose artificial sweeteners because they believe they are healthier than sugar, while regulatory authorities generally consider these products safe.
“However, our long-term results from the general population demonstrate how limited our knowledge remains about the cardiovascular safety of xylitol. More research is needed, particularly as the use and concentration of xylitol in consumer products continue to rise,” he said.
Prof Dan Atar, a member of the European Society of Cardiology’s communications committee who did not participate in the study, said modern society widely uses artificial sweeteners and regulators generally consider them safe.
“Nevertheless, this observational study suggests that xylitol may have a harmful long-term association with cardiovascular events in the general population. Because observational research cannot establish cause and effect with certainty, additional studies are necessary to better understand this important public-health issue.”
Dell Stanford, a senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said that risks to heart health can develop gradually over time, making it important to ensure that ingredients added to foods do not increase those risks.
Stanford explained that artificial sweeteners such as xylitol are present in many foods and beverages. Because people may believe these products are healthier, they could consume more of them than they realize. She said the study contributes to growing evidence that artificial sweeteners may affect human health.
Study Shows Association, Not Direct Causation
However, she emphasized that the research was observational, meaning it identified an association between higher xylitol levels and cardiovascular events but did not prove that xylitol directly caused them. Further research is therefore necessary.
Stanford also stressed that the findings should not be interpreted as a reason to consume more sugar, since reducing free-sugar intake remains important.
She concluded that the study highlights the need to reduce consumption of processed foods and drinks, which often contain high amounts of sugar, salt or sweeteners, while maintaining a balanced diet to support heart health.
Read the original article on: theguardian
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