Xylitol it is the latest sugar substitute linked to possible negative health impacts.
In a Cleveland Clinic study published Thursday in the European Heart Journal, researchers found that higher amounts of xylitol are associated with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
Xylitol, a sugar alcohol found naturally in some plants, is not the most common sweetening agent in sugar-free food products in the US, but is often found in sugar free gum and some toothpastes.
The study, which included more than 3,000 participants in the US and UK, was observational, meaning it does not prove causation. Still, it gives pause when it comes to the use of artificial sweeteners, especially as they continue to gain popularity as healthy alternatives.
“This study again shows the immediate need to investigate sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners, particularly as they continue to be recommended to combat conditions such as obesity or diabetes,” said study director Dr Stanley Hazen , in a press release. “It doesn't mean throw away the toothpaste if it contains xylitol, but we need to be aware that consuming a product that contains high levels could increase the risk of events related to blood clots.”
The authors note that further studies are needed to better understand the potential health risks.
Last year, the same research team found erythritola calorie-free sugar substitute used to sweeten low-calorie, low-carb and “keto” products to have similar effects on the heart.
While that study also didn't definitively show causation, CBS News medical contributor Dr. David Agus said there was “certainly enough data to be very concerned.”
In response to the erythritol study, Robert Rankin, executive director of the Calorie Control Council, an international association representing the low-calorie and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry, told CBS News that the results are “contrary to decades of scientific research showing low calories.” and zero-calorie sweeteners such as erythritol are safe, as demonstrated by global regulatory approvals for use in food and beverages, and should not be extrapolated to the general population, as intervention participants already had a greater risk of cardiovascular events.”
CBS News has reached out to the Calorie Control Council for comment on the latest research on xylitol.
