Researchers have raised new concerns about xylitol, a sweetener commonly used in sugar-free gum, after a study linked high blood levels of the substance to an increased risk of heart attacks.
Researchers from the Charité University Hospital in Berlin, after analyzing data from 17,710 people, found that those with the highest blood levels of xylitol were more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke, or premature death compared to those with lower levels.
Over six years of follow-up, the risk of a major cardiovascular event increased by 57% in those with the highest xylitol levels, after accounting for factors such as age, sex, smoking, and high blood pressure. After 30 years, the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes was 18% higher in this group.
Xylitol, a sugar alcohol naturally found in the body, is used to sweeten chewing gum, mints, and some foods, beverages, and oral care products. It contains fewer calories than sugar and is also associated with dental health benefits.
Researchers suggest that the effect of xylitol on blood viscosity is one possible explanation for these results, as previous research has indicated that high levels of it may increase the blood's tendency to form clots.
However, the study does not prove that xylitol causes heart attacks or strokes, but rather indicates a link between high blood levels of it and these risks.
Dr. Marco Witkowski, who led the study, said that people consume artificial sweeteners believing them to be healthier than sugar, while regulators generally consider them safe. He added that the findings highlight the need for further research into the long-term safety of these substances.
The study comes amid growing interest in the potential health effects of artificial sweeteners, after previous studies explored possible links between them and obesity, diabetes, and some heart diseases, in addition to their effect on beneficial bacteria in the gut.
The World Health Organization’s classification of aspartame in 2023 as a substance that “may be carcinogenic to humans” also sparked widespread controversy, with the organization emphasizing that the risk is linked to high levels of consumption.
Experts emphasize that the results of the new study do not mean that products containing xylitol should be stopped, stressing that further studies are needed to determine whether the sweetener actually causes an increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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