No-sugar sweetener erythritol may pose risk to cells in the brain
The popular zero-calorie erythritol can damage cells that line the blood vessels of the brain, suggests a new laboratory study.
This raises concerns as to whether the sweetener increases the risk of stroke – but experts warn that more research is necessary to know how these results could really have an impact on human health.
“This study was carried out in a controlled framework on isolated cells, rather than in an entire living organism,” said Amy ReicheltA nutritional neuroscientist from the University of Adélaide in Australia, which was not involved in the study. “Thus, the real physiological impact on human health in daily food contexts remains uncertain,” said Reichelt to Live Science in an email.
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol often found in sugar -free products with a low carbohydrate content. It also occurs naturally in fruits, such as grapes, and is made by the body in small quantities, although commercial erythritol comes from fermented corn. Almost as sweet as sugar but calories and a negligible effect on blood sugar, it has long been a must for people who manage their consumption of sugar.
But some research suggests that sweetening may not be without risk. A study in 2023 published in the journal Nature Medicinewhich involved more than 4,000 people in the United States and Europe, bound high levels of erythritol in the blood with a greater risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack. That same year, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised to use it long -term sweeteners not in sugar, citing evidence that they do not help weight control and can increase the risk of certain conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
However, both the 2023 study and which reported that, due to data limits, scientists do not fully understand potential health risks. The new study, published on June 16 in the Journal of Applied Physiologydug in this area.
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The researchers cultivated endothelial cells of the human brain, which line the blood vessels of the brain, in the laboratory and exposed them to erythritol for three hours. They used the equivalent of 30 grams of the sweetener, about as much as in a pint of ice without sugar.
After the three -hour increase, they observed signs of stress: cells produced more free radicalReactive molecules which can damage and age cells, compared to cells that had not been exposed to sweetening. They also noticed a drop of nitric oxide, a compound that helps dilate blood vessels and an increase in endothelin-1, which makes the blood vessels narrow.
They also tested the response of thrombin cells, an enzyme involved in the formation blood clots. The cells exposed to the sweetener released less than a protein, called the tissue plasminogen activator (T-P-PA), which breaks down blood clots than unpresenting cells. If this sidewalk protein was also “considerably blunt” in the body, this could interfere with blood flow and potentially increase the risks of stroke.
“In our experiences, we have cultivated endothelial cells of the human brain, which are a strong indicator for those of the body”, author of the senior study Christopher DesouzaProfessor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder, told Live Science in an email. “Our results provide additional information on how high levels of erythritol could contribute to an increase in the risk of stroke and help reveal potential underlying mechanisms.”
However, Desouza warned that the study tested only one dose of erythritol under laboratory conditions, when the cells were directly exposed to the substance for an extended period, which may not reflect the real use of the sweetener. “We need more studies to see if these effects are resisting repeated or long-term exposure, or in other types of cells,” he said.
Reichelt has agreed, adding that if laboratory studies provide precious information, the translation of these results in real effects requires caution.
However, Reichelt added that “observed cellular changes raise valid concerns about long -term vascular health”, so people with existing cardiovascular problems may want to moderate their contribution. “While erythritol is generally considered safe by regulatory organizationsExcessive intake in some people or over an extended period could present risks, “she said.
Desouza highlighted the need for more research to determine the amount of erythritol can be consumed without difficulty.
“At this stage, we cannot define a specific upper limit,” said Desouza. “But if you regularly consume sugar or diet products, it is wise to keep an eye on the amount of erythritol you consume.”
This article is for information only and is not supposed to offer medical or dietetic advice.
