A study presented at the ESC Cardiology Congress in Germany suggests that higher consumption of the artificial sweetener xylitol may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The research involved over 17,700 participants from Canada and the UK.
The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging found that participants with the highest xylitol levels had a 57% higher risk of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke related to cardiovascular events over a six-year follow-up. Meanwhile, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk group showed an 18% greater risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) over 30 years among those with the highest xylitol levels.
Both studies indicated a dose-dependent relationship, where increased blood xylitol concentrations correlated with higher rates of cardiovascular events, even after adjusting for factors such as age, gender, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and lipid levels.
Dr. Marco Witkowski, the study presenter from Charité University Hospital in Berlin, noted that previous research indicated xylitol might enhance platelet clot formation. He emphasized the need for further studies to understand the cardiovascular safety of xylitol, especially as its usage in products rises.
The observational nature of the study means it does not prove causation, and the researchers acknowledged that high blood xylitol levels might not directly indicate dietary intake, as the body can produce xylitol during glucose metabolism.
Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist based in London, commented on the findings, urging caution regarding artificial sweeteners and recommending dietary changes to reduce cardiovascular risk. Fox News Digital reached out to food and beverage trade groups for comments.