In a new Cleveland Clinic study, erythritol an artificial sweetener has been said to raise heart attacks and stroke risks.
The study discovered that erythritol a polyol, widely used in low sugar reduced calorie products especially in low-carb or keto diets increases blood platelets and promotes formation of blood clots.
These findings were disclosed in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology a medical journal.
The team’s prior research was established that heart patients with the signs of erythritol presence in blood serum have double risk to undergo a major cardiac event in 3 years.
The randomized control trial was based on comparing the effect of the sweetened drink with 30 grams of glucose on the different parameters to the sweetened drink with 30 grams of erythritol.
Samples of the participants’ blood were collected after an eight-hour fasting period, and from the results an individual that consumed the artificial sweetener had a five figures plus erythritol level compared to the participants that consumed sugar.
Patients are advised not to take artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes, attempt to take whole foods, do not take processed foods and groceries should be taken from the produce section.
As for those who want to add something sweet in a food or a beverage, it is best to use honey or fruits and never artificial sweetener.
Erythritol again has approval from not only the United States Food and Drug Administration but also the European Food Safety Authority as a GRAS or ‘generally recognized as safe’ substance, but it does not require any safety testing to be undergone.
The researchers imply that such regulatory bodies should reconsider the safety of the utilisation of sugar alcohols and also state that more research is required to determine the effects of erythritol on the cardiovascular system in the long run.