Common Sweetener Xylitol May Increase Heart Attack and Stroke Risk – Study Warns
Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – A widely used artificial sweetener found in chewing gum, toothpaste, yoghurt and other everyday products may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to new research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich, Germany.
The study found that people with higher concentrations of xylitol in their blood were significantly more likely to experience major cardiovascular events than those with lower levels.
Researchers analysed data from 17,710 participants enrolled in two long-term population studies—the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Ageing and the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk.
According to the findings, participants with the highest blood levels of xylitol had a 57 per cent higher risk of suffering a major cardiovascular event—including heart attack, stroke or death—over six years in the Canadian study.
In the European study, participants recorded an 18 per cent higher risk over a 30-year follow-up period.
Researchers also observed a dose-response relationship, suggesting that cardiovascular risk increased as xylitol levels in the bloodstream rose.
Lead researcher Dr. Marco Witkowski of Charité University Hospital in Berlin said previous research had already shown that xylitol could increase the tendency of blood platelets to form clots.
“Artificial sweeteners are consumed by people who think they are healthier than sugar and are generally regarded as safe,” Witkowski said.
He noted that the latest findings highlight important questions about the long-term cardiovascular safety of xylitol, especially as its use continues to expand across food and oral care products.
Commenting on the study, Professor Dan Atar, a member of the ESC Communication Committee, said the findings point to a possible negative long-term effect of xylitol on cardiovascular health.
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