From low-carb ice cream to keto protein bars to sugar-free drinks, the sweetener erythritol is used in a wide range of foods. However, new research has found that this sugar substitute may cause damage to brain cells and increase the risk of stroke. Relevant research was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Erythritol, a sugar alcohol usually made from fermented corn, has become an additive in hundreds of foods since it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2001. Its sweetness is about 80% that of sucrose, has almost no calories, and has little impact on blood sugar, so it is favored by people who want to lose weight and control sugar. But recent research shows it may pose health risks.
A study of 4,000 people in the United States and Europe by the University of Colorado Boulder found that men and women with higher blood levels of erythritol had a significantly increased risk of heart disease or stroke within the next three years. To explore the reason, researchers treated brain vascular endothelial cells with erythritol equivalent to the content of a can of sugar-free drinks. They observed that: the cells produced less nitric oxide (a substance that helps relax blood vessels), while endothelin-1, which constricts blood vessels, increased; at the same time, the cells' ability to dissolve blood clots decreased, and the production of free radicals (metabolic byproducts that cause cell damage) increased. Together, these changes may lead to abnormal blood vessel function, thereby increasing the risk of stroke.
The researchers noted that only a single dose of erythritol was used in the experiment, and that people who consume multiple daily servings of the product may be at higher risk. However, this research is in the laboratory stage and still needs to be verified by more human trials.
Based on the available evidence, researchers recommend that consumers read food labels carefully and reduce their intake of foods containing erythritol or other sugar alcohols to reduce potential health risks.