21-07-2025
Sweetener in DOZENS of 'healthy' low-calorie foods spikes risk of stroke, experts discover - as cases soar in young people
An artificial sweetener added to 'healthy' foods—including low-calorie ice cream and protein bars—could increase the risk of stroke and brain damage, research suggests.
Erythritol, which is also commonly found in flavoured waters and popular diet products like Halo Top ice cream—has already been linked to digestive issues and heart problems.
Now, scientists at the University of Colorado say even small amounts of the substance may promote blood clotting and inflammation, potentially raising the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes.
Experts warned the findings could help explain the sharp rise in premature deaths from cardiovascular disease seen over the past decade.
The study, led by vascular health specialist Professor Christopher DeSouza, involved exposing human brain cells to erythritol at levels equivalent to those found in a standard sugar-free drink such as Vitaminwater and Monster.
Within three hours, the cells showed signs of inflammation and an increased tendency to clot.
'Our study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that so-called "safe" non-nutritive sweeteners may come with hidden health risks,' said Prof DeSouza.
'Not only that, it demonstrates how erythritol in particular may raise stroke risk.'
A previous study involving more than 4,000 people found that those with the highest levels of erythritol in their blood were significantly more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke within three years.
In the new study, Professor Christopher DeSouza and colleagues at the University of Colorado exposed human brain cells to erythritol at concentrations similar to those found in a standard sugar-free drink such as Vitaminwater.
Within three hours, the cells showed clear signs of inflammation and clotting. They also produced significantly less nitric oxide—a molecule that helps relax blood vessels—and more proteins that cause blood vessels to constrict.
'Big picture, if your vessels are more constricted and your ability to break down blood clots is lowered, your risk of stroke goes up,' said study co-author Auburn Berry.
Professor DeSouza added: 'Our study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that so-called "safe" non-nutritive sweeteners may come with hidden health risks.
'Not only that, it demonstrates how erythritol in particular may raise stroke risk.'
The erythritol-treated cells also produced more free radicals—unstable molecules which are known to cause damage to the DNA inside cells if they build up.
This in turn can cause oxidative stress which has been linked with heart disease, dementia and even cancer.
While the researchers only tested brain cells in a lab and used a dose equivalent to a single serving of erythritol, Professor DeSouza warned that people who consume multiple servings a day—via diet drinks, protein bars or low-calorie desserts—could face a higher risk.
He urged the public to be mindful of their intake, warning: 'These sweeteners come with a plethora of negative health consequences.'
However, the team acknowledged this was a key limitation of the study, and further research is needed to confirm whether erythritol has similar effects in the human body.
Erythritol was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001.
It is typically made by fermenting corn and is found in hundreds of products as a low-calorie sugar substitute.
It mimics the taste of sugar but isn't metabolised in the same way—meaning it contains virtually no calories.
For that reason, it has become a popular choice among dieters and people with diabetes trying to control blood sugar levels.
But erythritol is also naturally produced in small amounts by the body.
Experts say that consuming it in high levels—through both processed products and natural sources like fruit and vegetables—could potentially push levels into the danger zone.
Concerns about artificial sweeteners, widely added to everything from fizzy drinks to 'healthy' snacks, have been building for years amid mounting evidence they may not be as harmless as once believed.
But critics highlight such studies are only observational, meaning they are unable to prove artificial sweeteners are the culprit and cannot rule out other external factors being to blame.
Worries were heightened in 2023 after the World Health Organisation controversially classified the artificial sweetener aspartame, found in drinks like Diet Coke, as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans'.
However, the UN agency ruled it only posed a risk to those who consumed massive amounts and that an 11 stone (70kg) adult could safely drink about 14 cans a day.
But now, Taiwanese researchers have warned that children who consume a diet packed with sweeteners may be at higher risk of reaching puberty earlier.
They found that high levels of the additives could trigger central precocious puberty—where the first signs of puberty typically emerge before the age of eight in girls and nine in boys.
Higher consumption of 'added sugars', meaning those above the natural content of a food or drink item, was also linked with an earlier puberty—increasing the risk of depression, diabetes and even cancer.
MailOnline has previously reported that the number of under-40s treated by the NHS for heart attacks is also climbing, with soaring obesity rates and related health issues believed to be key drivers.
In the UK, around 420 people of working age die of as a result of heart disease each week, totalling an alarming 21,975 a year.
Cardiovascular disease is America's number one killer and nearly 1million people die of it every year.
