This popular sweetener may raise your heart attack, stroke risk

Xylitol, an artificial sweetener widely used in foods, beverages, chewing gum and oral care products, may come with some health risks.

In a study, presented at the ESC Congress cardiology conference in Germany that ran from Aug. 28-31, researchers found people with high blood levels of the sweetener were associated with increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke or death, compared to those with the lowest levels.

Over a six-year follow-up period, the risk was 57% higher in those with the highest levels versus the lowest levels after correcting for known cardiovascular risk factors, including age, sex, smoking status, lipid levels, diabetes and hypertension. Over a follow-up period of 30 years, the risk was 18% higher, the study found.

The researchers noted these findings suggest a dose-dependent relationship, meaning the higher the xylitol levels, the higher the cardiovascular event rate. The study, which used data from 17,710 participants in two prospective observational cohorts, is not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal. It is also an observational study, meaning it does not prove cause and effect.

"Our long-term findings in the general population highlight how little we know about the cardiovascular safety of xylitol and indicate that…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/life/