Common sweetener may raise heart attack and stroke risk
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Xylitol, a low-calorie sweetener commonly found in sugar-free chewing gum, baked goods, and jams, has been associated with a higher risk of major cardiovascular events. In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that people with higher blood levels of xylitol were more likely to experience heart attacks, strokes, or cardiovascular death. The findings suggest that xylitol may increase platelet activity and promote blood clot formation, although the study does not prove that consuming xylitol directly causes cardiovascular disease.
Source
Xylitol is prothrombotic and associated with cardiovascular risk. Witkowski M, Nemet I, Li XS, Wilcox J, Ferrell M, Alamri H, Gupta N, Wang Z, Tang WHW, Hazen SL. Eur Heart J. 2024 Jun 6:ehae244. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae244. Online ahead of print. PMID: 38842092.
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