New Study Links Sweetener in Foods to Heart Risks

Xylitol is a type of sugar alcohol used in many foods, drinks, and oral care products as a sweetener. A new study shows it may increase the risk of stroke and heart attack.

You can find xylitol in items like chewing gum, toothpaste, jam, yoghurt, and ice cream.

This finding came from a press release by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The announcement was made before their annual meeting in Munich, Germany, from August 28 to 31.

Researchers discovered that people with higher xylitol levels in their blood faced a greater risk of serious heart issues, like death, heart attacks, or strokes, compared to those with lower levels.

The ESC said the study looked at data from 17,710 participants in two long-term studies: the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Ageing and the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk.

During six years of follow-up in the Canadian study, participants with the highest xylitol levels had a 57 percent higher risk of major heart events. In the European study, the risk was 18 percent higher over 30 years.

"When combined with data from the middle quartiles, results from both groups suggested a dose-dependent relationship: the higher the xylitol blood levels, the higher the rate of cardiovascular events," the report said.

What is xylitol?

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that the body naturally produces as it processes glucose. It is also found in some natural foods, but in very small amounts.

Sometimes, xylitol is added to foods, drinks, and oral products in amounts that are over 1,000 times higher than what occurs naturally, according to the ESC.

Marco Witkowski from Charite University Hospital in Berlin, Germany, who presented the research, mentioned that past studies showed xylitol could help blood platelets form clots.

"People think they are being healthier by using artificial sweeteners, and regulatory agencies usually consider them safe," Mr Witkowski said.

He pointed out that the long-term findings show how little we understand about the heart safety of xylitol. He called for more studies, especially since xylitol use in products keeps growing.

Dan Atar, a member of the ESC Communication Committee, noted that the results suggest xylitol might negatively impact heart issues over time.

Mr Atar also warned that this study is observational.

"In observational studies, it is hard to draw firm conclusions about cause and effect, but this shows we need more research on this important issue for society," he said.