Are Sugar Alcohols Really a Heart Risk? Here’s What You Need to Know
If you’re having déjà vu, it’s understandable. We've previously discussed the potential link between artificial sweeteners and heart problems. However, a new study has surfaced, prompting a closer look at whether sugar alcohols, like xylitol, are a genuine threat to your heart health.
The recent research has sparked concern by suggesting a connection between xylitol—a common sweetener found in products like toothpaste, gum, and baked goods—and an increased risk of major cardiovascular events. But does this mean xylitol is putting your heart at risk? Not quite.
After digging deeper, it turns out the study didn’t actually prove that xylitol causes heart attacks. The researchers found elevated levels of xylitol in the blood of participants who had heart issues, but they only measured fasting levels and didn’t account for how much xylitol the participants had actually consumed.
This detail is crucial because xylitol isn’t just something you eat—it’s also naturally produced by your body. So, elevated xylitol in your blood could be more about what’s happening inside your body, like inflammation or insulin resistance, rather than the xylitol in your diet.
In fact, when researchers tested xylitol intake, they noted that blood levels spiked quickly after consumption but returned to normal within six hours. They even acknowledged that the elevated xylitol levels they observed were more likely due to internal processes, not food consumption.
What does this all mean for you? It’s unlikely that consuming xylitol or other sugar alcohols directly causes heart problems. Elevated xylitol levels in your blood might be an indicator of underlying health issues, not a consequence of your diet.
If you’re still worried about sugar alcohols or prefer to avoid them until more research is done, it’s pretty easy to cut back. Just check nutrition labels for sweeteners ending in “-tol,” like xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol, and maltitol. While these sweeteners aren’t likely to trigger heart attacks, they can cause digestive issues for some people, so reducing your intake might be a good idea for your stomach’s sake.
If you're really concerned about your xylitol levels, consider getting a blood test to check for other health issues. But for now, there’s no strong evidence that sugar alcohols alone are putting your heart at risk.
