Sweeteners are food additives called substitute sugars or fake sugars. They are used by manufacturers to provide a sweet taste to a product replacing traditional sugar. They have become popular because they are lower in calories than sugar.
Among them are erythritol. It is – so far – recommended for people suffering fromobesity or of diabetes to bet on foods that contain this sweetener rather than real sugar. It is low in calories and does not affect insulin. This means that when it is ingested into the body, no insulin is released into the blood.
A new study published on February 27, 2023 in Nature Medicine warns us, however, this food additive. It is associated with a increased risk of heart attack and D’stroke by being conducive to coagulation.
Erythritol: in which foods can we find this additive?
Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic (USA) conducted their study on more than 4,000 people in the United States and Europe. They found that those with high blood erythritol levels had a high risk of cardiovascular disorder such as a heart attack or stroke.
The results also revealed that erythritol could cause blood clots to form. After ingestion, erythritol would be poorly metabolized by the body.
“Sweeteners like erythritol have grown rapidly in popularity in recent years, but further research must be conducted on their long-term effects,” said senior author Stanley Hazen, MD, Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Cardiology & Metabolic Sciences at the Lerner Research Institute and co-chair of the Preventive Cardiology Section. at the Cleveland Clinic.
“Cardiovascular disease develops over time, and heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. We need to make sure the foods we eat aren’t hidden contributors.”
Artificial sweeteners, such as erythritol, are found in products low calorie, low carb. Sugar-free products containing erythritol are often recommended for people with obesity, diabetes or metabolic syndrome seeking solutions for manage their sugar or calorie intake. People with these diseases are also at higher risk for cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes.
Besides the industrial productserythritol is also found naturally in some fermented foods and in many fruits. It is found in the list of product ingredients in full or with the code E 968.