If you’re trying to lower your sugar intake or protect your enamel a bit more, you’ve probably enjoyed an artificial sweetener here and there. These sweeteners, such as aspartame and sucralose, are found in many foods and drinks from diet sodas to sugar-free desserts . This is all to say that artificial sweeteners are common, and if you consume them, you’re far from alone.
Related: Diet Coke vs. Coke Zero: Which One’s Better for You?
At the same time, it’s important to note that one artificial sweetener in particular may increase the risk of heart health issues such as a heart attack or stroke, even if consumed in a “typical quantity.”
The Artificial Sweetener That Could Raise Your Heart Attack Risk
That artificial sweetener is erythritol.
A recent study by the Cleveland Clinic, published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology , shares this. It found erythritol enhances platelet reactivity, which can enhance the risk of thrombosis, a blood clot in a blood vessel or heart chamber. Additionally, the fake sugar can increase levels of proteins associated with blood clotting.
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This isn't the first time the Cleveland Clinic has tackled this top, and came to similar conclusions, we’re sad to say. Their 2023 study published in Nature Medicine discovered erythritol is associated with a risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and thrombosis. The cardiologist who led the research, Stanley Hazen, noted that the more erythritol people had in their system, the worse the outcome. “The top 25% had twice the risk of a heart attack, stroke and death compared to the bottom 25%.” This makes it as strong a risk factor as diabetes for cardiovascular issues. Plus, erythritol stood out as a stronger predictor of heart problems than high cholesterol levels.
Related: This Is the Early Heart Attack Symptom That’s Missed the Most Often, According to Cardiologists
FWIW, the Cleveland Clinic research was done on animal models. And as with any study, confounding factors may be at play. Still, it may be true that sugar substitutes aren’t necessarily the all-purpose solution they're made out to be (and that’s not even considering their icky side effects, like bloating, gas and diarrhea).
The products sweetened with erythritol run the gamut from yogurts to diet sodas, so if you're looking to avoid it, your best bet is to be a label sleuth and see what your zero-sugar products are sweetened with.
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