High blood xylitol linked to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes
A new study presented in Germany found that people with higher concentrations of the artificial sweetener xylitol in their blood face a greater chance of major cardiovascular events.
At the ESC Cardiology Congress in Germany, scientists presented evidence that larger amounts of the sugar-alcohol xylitol in the bloodstream correspond with a heightened probability of major adverse cardiovascular events. The investigation followed two large cohorts—more than 17,700 adults from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and the EPIC-Norfolk study in the United Kingdom—over several years, revealing a 57% increase in death, myocardial infarction or stroke among Canadians with the highest xylitol levels and an 18% rise in the British group.
The relationship persisted after controlling for common risk factors such as age, gender, body-mass index, hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol. Prior laboratory work indicated that xylitol may enhance platelet clot formation, providing a plausible mechanism. While the study is observational and cannot establish direct causality, researchers and cardiologists emphasized the need for additional trials, especially as xylitol use in foods and dental products continues to grow.
Why it matters
If confirmed, the link between xylitol and heart risk could reshape dietary guidelines and product formulations.
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