The artificial sweetener erythritol proved dangerous to life and health

The artificial sweetener erythritol (erythritol, erythrol), which is widespread in the world, can cause blood clots, lead to stroke, heart attack and death. This conclusion was made by scientists at the Center for Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Prevention of the Lerner Institute for Clinical Research in Cleveland (Ohio, USA). Their research has been published in magazine nature medicine.

Erythritol, like other organic compounds like xylitol and sorbitol, belongs to sugar alcohols and is found in many fruits and vegetables, and is also produced by the human body, but in very small quantities. The sweet substance does not contain calories, does not lead to an increase in blood sugar levels, and has been used since the 90s of the last century as a sugar substitute, including for the manufacture of confectionery. Meanwhile, according to study leader Stanley Hazen, the degree of risk to human health from the use of erythritol “is not moderate.” At the same time, the degree of risk doubles if this sweetener is actively consumed by people who already have health problems, for example, a predisposition to heart attack or stroke, diabetes. The study also showed that under the influence of erythritol, platelets are more actively involved in the clotting process, forming blood clots.

The original goal of the study was to identify unknown chemicals or compounds in human blood that could indicate a potential risk of heart attack, stroke or death within the next three years. As part of the study, researchers examined blood samples collected between 2004 and 2011 from 1,157 patients with heart disease. As a result, erythritol was found in the blood of these patients in significant quantities. To clarify the data, blood samples from more than 2,100 patients in the US and 833 patients in Europe were studied. Three quarters of the study participants suffered from high blood pressure, 20% of patients had diabetes. And this study confirmed that high levels of erythritol in the blood can lead to the fact that within three years a person will have a heart attack, stroke, or die. Further studies already involving healthy people have shown that 30 g of erythritol is enough for the level of its content in the blood to increase a thousand times and remain at this level for two to three days, provoking the risk of blood clots.

Alena Miklashevskaya