The popular sweetener that could damage its brain defenses

Ererol has long been considered a healthy alternative to sugar, but a new search shows that it can have serious health consequences

Found in almost everything, from proteins to energy bars, erythritolo has long been considered a healthy alternative to sugar.

But new research suggests that this largely used sweetener can silently compromise one of the most important barriers of our body, with possible serious consequences for heart health and the risk of stroke.

A recent study by the University of Colorado indicates that erythritolo can damage the blood barriers of the blood -nero – a cerebral “defense system” responsible for the prevention of harmful substances, while allowing the essential nutrients to enter.

The results strengthen the worries underlined in previous studies, which had observed a relationship between the consumption of erythritus and an increase in cases of heart attack and stroke.

In this new experiment, the researchers have exposed the cells from the hematencephalic barrier to the levels of erythritus similar to those found in the blood after consuming a sweetened drink with this component.

The result was a chain reaction of the cell damage that can make the brain more vulnerable to the formation of blood clots, leading to a stroke.

Heart attack and stroke

Eritritolo has triggered what scientists call oxidative stress – an overload of highly reactive molecules known as free radicals that damage cells by reducing the natural antioxidant defenses of the body.

This double attack has compromised the ability of cells to function normally and, in some cases, led to cell death.

But perhaps the most worrying are the effects of the Actil about the ability of the blood vessels to regulate the bloodstream.

In normal conditions, the vessels work as a traffic controller: they extend when organs need more blood – during exercise, for example – and contract when the demand for blood decreases.

This delicate balance is obtained through two important molecules: nitric oxide, which relaxes the blood vessels and the endotheline-1, which contracts them.

The study has shown that erythytal deregulating this essential system, reducing the production of nitric oxide and increasing the levels of Endotheline-1.

This causes blood vessels to remain dangerously contracted, which can lead to the lack of oxygen and nutrients in the brain.

This imbalance is a risk indicator for the ischemic stroke caused by clots that block the blood flow in the brain.

Even more alarming, Eyritolo seems to sabotage the natural defense of the body against clots.

Normally, when a clot is formed in the blood vessels, the cells release a mixture called tissue plasminogen (TPA), which dissolves the block before it causes a stroke.

But the sweetener has inhibited this protection mechanism, allowing clots to progress without control.

The results of the laboratory corroborate with the evidence of other studies with man. Several large -scale observational research stressed that people consuming Eritritolo frequently have higher risks of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke.

One of the main studies, which monitored thousands of participants, discovered that those with higher levels of erythytal in the blood were twice the chances of undergoing a serious heart event.

However, research has limits. The experiments were conducted with isolated cells in laboratory plates, not with complete blood vessels, which means that cells may not behave exactly in the human body.

Scientists recognize that more advanced tests will be needed, using systems with “blood vessels in the chip” which better imitate real physiology – to confirm these effects.

But the results are particularly relevant because erythritolo occupies a unique position in the universe of sweeteners.

Unlike artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or sucrose, erythritus is technically an alcohol of sugar – a natural compound that the human body itself produces in small quantities.

This classification has contributed to avoiding its inclusion in the recent guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), which advise against the use of artificial sweeteners for weight control.

In addition, the eryritolo has become popular with food producers because more sugar is behaved than other alternatives. While the Sucralose is 320 times sweeter than sugar, Eryritolo provides only 80% of sweetness, which facilitates its use in recipes without creating an excessively surprising or intense flavor.

Today it is present in thousands of industrialized products, mainly in those labeled “zero sugars” or used in ketogenic diets with carbohydrate restrictions.

Sugar replacement

Regulatory agencies such as the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) and the Administration of the United States and Medicines have approved erythritus as consumption insurance. However, this new research strengthens the growing tests that indicate that even natural alternatives to sugar can cause unexpected health risks.

For consumers, the results raise difficult questions about the exchanges that can be asked to replace sugar.

Sweeters such as erythritus can be precious tools in the weight control and in the prevention of diabetes, helping to reduce calories and prevent blood sugar peaks. But if regular consumption can weaken brain protection barriers and increase the risk of a cardiovascular event, the benefits can be expensive.

The research highlights a challenge in nutritional science: understanding the long -term effects of relatively new food additives that have become omnipresent in the modern diet.

While the ererol can help people avoid immediate damage to excessive consumption of sugar, its effect on the bloodphalical barriers indicates that frequent use can silently compromise the protection of the brain over time.

While scientists continue to investigate these worrying bonds, perhaps they deserve the penalty to re -evaluate their relationship with this apparently harmless sweetener – and perhaps they wonder if a substitute for sugar is truly risky.

* Havovi Chichger is a professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Anglia Ruskin in the United Kingdom.

This entry was originally published on the Academic News website The Conversation and republished here with a Creative Commons license. Read the original version here.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.