Sugar replacement linked to blood clots, stroke, death: study

A popular sugar replacement, often used in “health foods”, is now being linked to some dangerous health issues, thanks to recent research.

The sweetener erythritol, which is a sugar alcohol, is concerning researchers who’ve discovered the consumption of it has links to blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and even death. It’s also considered worse for people with existing health issues like heart disease and diabetes.

The research was recently highlighted in the journal Nature Medicine.

“The degree of risk was not modest,” lead study author Dr. Stanley Hazen, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Prevention at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute told CNN. “If your blood level of erythritol was in the top 25 per cent compared to the bottom 25 per cent, there was about a two-fold higher risk for heart attack and stroke. It’s on par with the strongest of cardiac risk factors, like diabetes.”

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Ali Chernoff is a registered dietician in Vancouver, and she says if you have health conditions like heart disease and diabetes, then you definitely want to avoid erythritol, which is often used to bulk up or sweeten products, including many Keto items you may find in the pharmacy section of your drug store.

“This sugar alcohol is the newest on the market of all the sugar alcohols,” says Chernoff.

She adds, like with any study, more research is needed but feels there’s enough evidence here that people should be worried.

“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot more research coming out soon, but I would definitely be concerned based even on this one study,” she told CityNews.

Chernoff isn’t surprised erythritol is causing problems but adds you don’t necessarily have to throw out anything in your cupboard with it on the ingredient list. “It’s all in moderation too. It’s like saying, ‘Blueberries are healthy for you,’ but you’re not going to go and have 10 cups of the blueberries.”

Erythritol is marketed toward people who are trying to cut sugar or are diabetic and are looking for alternatives, but if it’s considered even more dangerous for that population, Chernoff suggests turning to produce to crush your cravings.

“When I make banana bread, I actually use apple sauce to make it super moist. And I always tell my clients, ‘Forget this,’ it’s so confusing too when you read the ingredients, it’s like, ‘Low-calorie, low sugar, and low carb,’ and it’s like, ‘What’s in the product?’

“Let’s take a step back and just use whole foods. Just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t eat any sugar. There are carbohydrates in your fruits and vegetables, it doesn’t mean you’re eliminating that. You could even bake a pear in the oven and puree it and use that as your sweetener.”

Erythritol looks like sugar, tastes like sugar, and has become the sweetheart of the food industry but Chernoff stresses moderation is key if you’re looking for replacements or to make changes to your diet.

In a statement to CityNews, Diabetes Canada says artificial sweeteners are regulated as “food additives” in Canada.

“Many, including erythritol, have been approved for sale and use in various consumable products. Health Canada has set acceptable daily intake values based on body weight that are considered safe daily intake levels over a lifetime. Artificial sweeteners and products containing artificial sweeteners can be incorporated into a healthy eating pattern, if desired.

“Diabetes Canada recommends people with diabetes who wish to consume artificial sweeteners follow Health Canada guidelines when it comes to the type and amount considered to be safe. Diabetes Canada is always monitoring the latest research related to artificial sweetener use and will update recommendations as warranted. People with diabetes are encouraged to follow up with a registered dietitian or other healthcare providers if they have specific questions around their own artificial sweetener consumption,” it said.

In a statement to CityNews, Health Canada says erythritol has been approved for use as an additive sweetener in “a variety” of foods, adding such approval comes after it is deemed safe. It adds, at this time it’s not looking to make any changes to its guidelines, based on the study.

“However, if the weight of scientific evidence were to indicate that erythritol or any other food additive is unsafe for its permitted use, Health Canada would take action to protect Canadians, which could include reducing its maximum level of use, further restricting which foods it may be used in, or no longer permitting it to be used as a food additive.”

–With files from Greg Bowman