The sweetener erythritol is associated with cardiovascular disease, but studies need to be expanded. Understand what is known so far
It is no news that sugar, especially in excess, is bad for your health. Those who want to lose weight see the product as an enemy and end up resorting to the artificial sweetener erythritol instead. However, a new study published in the journal Medicine of Nature, suggests that erythritol is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death. To reach this conclusion, Cleveland Clinic researchers observed more than 4,000 people in the United States and Europe.
The initial goal, however, was not to study the sweetener’s action in the body, but to find chemicals in the blood that would identify “who was at risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in the next three years,” wrote Stanley Hazen. , a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, in Estadão. The found compound turned out to be erythritol. His team then developed a specific test, independently tested their hypotheses and replicated the results.
In preclinical studies, the researchers also found evidence that taking erythritol increased blood clot formation. However, they caution that more studies are needed and that the participants had a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is difficult to replicate the same results for the general population.
After all, is sweetener bad?
However, the findings Hazen’s team found are bad publicity for products that feature erythritol as a healthy, natural alternative to sugar. The findings come at a time when erythritol is popular with the public. That’s because new plant-based, ketogenic, and low-carb diet trends are fueling interest in alternative sweeteners sold as “natural.”
According to 2022 reports from research firm NielsenIQ, sales growth of erythritol products increased by 43% in two years. Products claiming to contain “natural sweeteners” are up 91%. “Sugar-free” products with erythritol are often recommended for people with obesity, diabetes or metabolic syndrome, who are already at risk for poor cardiovascular health, the paper’s authors note.
“Cardiovascular disease increases over time, and heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide,” Hazen said in a statement about the study. “We need to make sure the food we eat doesn’t contribute to this risk in a hidden way,” she added.
Erythritol
Present in small quantities in fruit and vegetables, erythritol is poorly metabolised by the body, as it is almost entirely excreted in the urine. Therefore, it is called a “zero calorie” sweetener. However, the researchers revealed that when artificially added to processed foods, the substance appears at levels “a thousand times higher than endogenous levels.”
Depending on the results of future surveys, the population will have to be even more aware of the labels on what they consume. After all, many foods that claim to taste natural, like keto granola and cookies, contain erythritol.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
