A new study has revealed that the artificial sweetener Erythritol (E 968) can cause blood clotting and may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Erythritol is one of eight approved sugar substitutes in the European Union and can be used in any quantity in food products. While artificial sweeteners like Stevia and Erythritol have been touted as a calorie-free alternative to sugar, recent studies have shown that they can have negative health effects, including increasing the risk of cancer and diabetes. The study, conducted by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic and published in the journal Nature Medicine, found that people with high levels of Erythritol in their blood were more likely to have suffered a heart attack, stroke, or other serious complications.
Erythritol is a sugar substitute that is about 70% as sweet as sugar and is mainly used in diet drinks and sugar-free gum. The sweetener is produced by fermenting corn and is difficult for the body to metabolize, which means it can accumulate in the bloodstream and be excreted in urine. The study’s findings suggest that the approval of Erythritol as a food additive may have been a mistake, as it appears to increase the risk of blood clotting and cardiovascular disease. The researchers conducted laboratory experiments that showed that Erythritol activates blood platelets, causing them to clump together and form clots. This can lead to blockages in the heart, brain, and other blood vessels, causing heart attacks and strokes.
The study’s lead author, Marco Witkowski, has called for further safety studies to be conducted on the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners, including Erythritol, on the risk of heart attack and stroke. A follow-up study is planned to investigate how Erythritol affects healthy individuals, in order to ensure that the results are not skewed by pre-existing health conditions. The findings of this study raise concerns about the safety of artificial sweeteners and highlight the need for more research into their potential health risks.
