Study Finds Artificial Sweetener Linked to Increased Risk of Stroke, Heart Attack

New Cleveland Clinic research adds to growing body of evidence that erythritol may raise the risk of cardiovascular disease

Consuming foods and drinks with erythritol, a popular artificial sweetener, may increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular problems, according to new research from Cleveland Clinic.

The study, published in the journal Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Research, found that people who consumed the highest amounts of erythritol had a 23% higher risk of cardiovascular events than those who consumed the lowest amounts.

This is the first study to show a link between erythritol and cardiovascular disease. However, other research has shown that erythritol can cause inflammation and oxidative stress, which are both risk factors for heart disease.

More research is needed to confirm the link between erythritol and cardiovascular disease. However, the findings of this study suggest that people who are concerned about their heart health should limit their consumption of foods and drinks that contain erythritol.

Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that is often used as a sweetener in diet foods and drinks. It is about 60% as sweet as sugar, but it contains no calories or carbohydrates.

Erythritol is generally considered to be safe for consumption. However, the new study suggests that it may not be as harmless as previously thought.

The study participants were followed for an average of 10 years. During that time, there were 1,502 cardiovascular events, including 583 strokes, 443 heart attacks, and 316 other cardiovascular events.

After adjusting for other risk factors, the researchers found that people who consumed the highest amounts of erythritol had a 23% higher risk of cardiovascular events than those who consumed the lowest amounts.

The researchers also found that the risk of cardiovascular events was higher among people who consumed erythritol from diet drinks than among those who consumed erythritol from other sources.

The study has some limitations. For example, it was observational, so it cannot prove that erythritol causes cardiovascular disease.

However, the findings of the study are concerning and suggest that more research is needed to investigate the potential risks of erythritol consumption.