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Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic have unveiled a significant correlation between the widely-used sugar substitute xylitol and increased cardiovascular risks, including heart attacks and strokes. The discovery raises substantial concerns regarding the safety of this popular alternative sweetener.

The investigation, conducted by analyzing plasma samples from over 3,000 fasting participants monitored over three years, revealed elevated blood levels of xylitol among individuals who had experienced cardiovascular events. Furthermore, experimentation on human whole blood and platelets indicated that xylitol triggered blood clotting, a phenomenon observed in subsequent tests on mice models, suggesting a potential mechanism for its adverse effects on heart health.

Additionally, volunteers who consumed a xylitol-sweetened drink exhibited heightened blood clotting ability, contrasting starkly with those who consumed glucose-based beverages. Stanley Hazen, the lead researcher and senior author of the study, emphasized the need for further research to discern whether this phenomenon extends to other sugar alcohols.

"We were trying to discover the next cholesterol, another pathway that contributes to heart disease that's naturally occurring in our bodies," Hazen, who is also the chair of cardiovascular and metabolic sciences at the Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute, explained.

"And we think that's what we have, is that erythritol or xylitol, these sugar alcohols, are linked to causing heart disease, or at least they're linked to being associated with future development of cardiac events."

While the findings, published in the European Heart Journal, show a concerning link between xylitol and cardiovascular risks, researchers caution against interpreting them as causative. Sugar alcohols like xylitol and erythritol, commonly used in processed foods as sugar substitutes due to their lower calorie and carb content, have been regarded as healthier alternatives. However, the study challenges such perceptions.

The escalating popularity of sugar substitutes like xylitol, particularly amidst the rise of keto and low-carb diets, underscores the urgency of addressing their potential health implications. With billions of dollars invested in xylitol products annually, the study's revelations prompt critical reflections on current dietary practices and public health policies.

"There's this unusual situation in the last one or two decades where people are experiencing levels of xylitol that has never been experienced in our evolution before," Hazen noted, The Washington Post reported.

"Even though it is a natural compound, it's used in a very unnatural way, at a level that is massively, massively higher than could ever appear under normal conditions."

Amid the varying perspectives on the safety of sugar substitutes, the study's lead author emphasized the need for a nuanced understanding of their physiological impacts. As debates surrounding artificial sweeteners intensify, experts urge caution and advocate for further research to elucidate their long-term effects on human health.

Carla Saunders, president of The Calorie Control Council, expressed dissent regarding the study's findings, stating, "The results of this study are contrary to decades of scientific evidence substantiating the safety and efficacy of low-calorie sweeteners such as xylitol by global health and regulatory agencies."

"Xylitol has been trusted as a great tasting low-calorie sweetener for over 60 years. It has proven dental benefits, including preventing plaque build-up and tooth decay, and is naturally occurring in foods such as strawberries, lettuce, and oats."

Marion Nestle, emeritus professor of nutrition at New York University, stressed the significance of the study, saying, "This study adds to a growing body of literature on the potential physiological problems caused by artificial sweeteners. Researchers are finding problems with one after another, now xylitol."