Used to limit sugar consumption, artificial sweeteners are present in many everyday products: foods, drinks, sweets, etc. But are these products safe for health? Researchers have just published an in-depth study on one of them, erythritol, which would increase the risk of cardiovascular accidents. Results.
Sweeteners and cardiovascular risk
Polyols are artificial sweeteners widely used by manufacturers as an alternative to sugar. One of them, erythritol, has been known since 1874 and obtained from corn starch. It has just been the subject of a study in several parts to assess its impact on the risk of cardiovascular accidents.
An initial group of 1,157 patients who underwent an assessment of cardiovascular function and risk, the researchers observed that levels of polyols, but especially erythritol, were associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or heart attack) over a period of three years.
Sweetener increases cardiovascular risk and risk of thrombosis
In a second step, the researchers carried out comparable investigations on two other cohorts of patients followed on the cardiac level, on the one hand a cohort of 2,149 Americans and on the other a cohort of 833 Europeans. Again, they observed for both cohorts that high levels of erythritol were significantly associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
Moreover, by bringing erythritol into contact with whole blood (plasma and blood cells), an activation of blood platelets, conducive to the formation of a blood clot, a mechanism implicated in the risk of venous or arterial thrombosis. In a final stage of the study, 8 healthy subjects ingested erythritol, at the rate of 30 g of a drink sweetened with erythritol (the equivalent of a can of soda). This consumption of erythritol led to increased blood levels of erythritol above the dose needed to activate blood platelets over a period of more than 2 days.
Studies on the long-term effect of sweeteners on health
According to all the data in the study, erythritol, a polyol commonly used by manufacturers, is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular accidents and thrombosis. For authors, extensive studies on the long-term safety of this sweetener are now needed. It would be particularly important to assess the risk in populations already presenting cardiovascular risk factors.
The use of sweeteners and foods and beverages containing them is generally more common among people who are trying to lose weight, who have problems regulating their blood sugar (prediabetes and diabetes) and/or have metabolic problems. Situations already associated with cardiovascular risk. The consumption of certain sweeteners could further increase this risk, not to mention the other effects of these increasingly criticized substances (impact on the intestinal microbiota in particular). Further studies could help to better regulate the use of these sweeteners and inform consumers about potential health risks.
Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy
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