It is hidden in chewing gums, “sugar-free” candies and even toothpaste. The Xylitol, nicknamed “birch sugar”, is everywhere … But could it be dangerous? Published at the end of May in theEuropean Heart Journala search by Cleveland Clinic in the United States throws raw light on the effects of this ingredient often presented as a healthy alternative to sugar. According to the researchers, patients with the highest rates of Xylitol in the blood were also those who suffered the most cardiovascular events such as strokes or infarction.
Xylitol: a sweetener much more common than you think
Directed by Dr. Stanley Hazen, president of cardiovascular and metabolic sciences of the Lerner Research Institute, the study analyzed data of more than 3,000 American and European patients. The team detected in a third of them a high plasma concentration in Xylitol, which seemed to triple the risk of cardiovascular accidents. In the laboratory, tests have confirmed that Xylitol could activate blood platelets, thus promoting the formation of clots.
“”This study once again shows the immediate need to study sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners“Said Dr. Hazen in an official statement.
These results echo a previous alert launched by the same researcher in 2023, this time about erythritol, another sweetener commonly used in sugar -free drinks. If the Xylitol is less widespread in the United States, it is “current in other countries“, Underlines the study.
What are the products containing Xylitol?
The Xylitol often appears in sugar-free chewing gums, in certain lightened confectionery, in toothpaste as well as in so-called “Keto” or low glycemic index products.
What challenges is that these products are often recommended for diabetic people or seeking to lose weight, alternative to conventional sugar. However, the study insists well: it is the high quantities that are problematic. It is not a question of prohibiting the brushing of teeth.
“”This does not mean that it is necessary to throw its toothpaste if it contains xylitol, but we must be aware that the consumption of a product containing high levels could increase the risk of events related to the formation of blood clots“, nuance Dr. Hazen.
Recommendations that remain cautious but firm
The link established by this study remains a correlation, not a causality. In other words, it has not yet been shown that the Xylitol causes strokes or infarction, but the beam of clues is sufficiently worrying for researchers to call for caution.
In the meantime, the authors advise people affected by cardiovascular risks to consult a healthcare professional. An individualized approach remains the best way, insists the team of Dr. Hazen, who calls for new clinical research on the effects of sweeteners over time.