Xylitol is often marketed as a “natural” way of sweetening drinks and food Pixel-shot/Alamy A sweetener called xylitol that is commonly used in sugar-free drinks, chewing gum and toothpaste has been linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. Often marketed as “low-carb”, “natural” and “keto-friendly”, xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is found in fruits and vegetables, but at about 1000 times lower levels than those added to commercial products. chemical reactions from plant materials.
Last year, at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and his colleagues found that . Wondering if xylitol may also affect heart , Hazen led a investigation of 3306 adults in the US and Europe. Advertisement Read more The researchers analysed a one-off sample from the participants to check their xylitol levels after they fasted overnight.
Over a three-year follow-up period, the team found that a third of those who had the highest levels of circulating xylitol were more likely to experience a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke. To better understand this trend, the researchers examined the effects of xylitol on human blood cells called platelets in the laboratory and on platelet activity in mice. Platelets cluster together at the site of an injury to prevent bleeding, but they can also clot inside blood vessels.
This can affect blood supply to the heart and brain, raising the risk of cardiovascular events. Get the most essential health and fitness news in your in.
