Study Links Sweetener Erythritol to Brain Cell Impact, Stroke Risk

quick summary

• study Findings: Research conducted by the University of Colorado, Boulder associates erythritol, a popular non-nutritive sweetener, with increased risks of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
• Sweetener Profile: Erythritol is a low-calorie sugar substitute used in baked goods, confectionery products, and beverages. It was FDA-approved in 2001 for people with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.
• Research Highlights:

– Higher circulating levels of erythritol linked to elevated heart attack or stroke risks within three years in a study involving 4,000 participants across the U.S. and europe.
– Laboratory tests showed that erythritol-treated brain endothelial cells expressed less nitric oxide (relaxing blood vessels), more endothelin-1 (constricting blood vessels), increased reactive oxygen species production (free radicals), and had reduced clot-busting capabilities.

• Expert Quote: Professor christopher DeSouza warns that consuming multiple servings of erythritol may exacerbate health impacts based on laboratory findings.
• Consumer Guidance: Researchers urge caution when consuming products containing “sugar alcohol” or erythritol on labels until further large-scale human studies are conducted.

!Erythritol study Image

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indian Opinion Analysis

The findings call into question the assumed safety of widely used artificial sweeteners like erythritol. This has implications for India where diet-related illnesses such as diabetes are prevalent and sugar substitutes are increasingly integrated into diets to curb calorie intake. Public health experts may need to evaluate reliance on alternatives like these versus promoting customary sugary foods cautiously.If corroborated by larger-scale human studies beyond laboratory environments,regulations around artificial sweeteners might tighten globally-possibly prompting India’s food regulatory bodies such as FSSAI to review their approval frameworks for such additives. Additionally, awareness campaigns focusing on reading ingredient labels could become increasingly critical in steering consumers towards informed choices amidst a constantly evolving food industry landscape.