Recent studies suggest that erythritol, one of the most common sugar substitutes, can be particularly harmful to the health of your brain and blood vessels. Our research indicates that even a single serving of an erythritol-sweetened beverage can adversely affect nitric oxide production. This important molecule is the key to creating healthy blood flow.
The cellular study found that human brain blood vessel cells experienced considerable oxidative stress when treated with an erythritol-based solution. This solution had roughly the same amount of erythritol as one can of an artificially sweetened beverage, and they were all tested over a three-hour period. In particular, the treated cells generated almost twice as many reactive oxygen species as their untreated counterparts. These highly reactive molecules are capable of causing substantial cellular damage, and their role in adverse health outcomes has become a major concern.
Erythritol’s effects on reducing nitric oxide production add to this concern. Nitric oxide plays a pivotal role in vascular relaxation and expansion, and depletion can lead to increased oxidative stress. These findings make sense when compared to early signals of vascular disease, according to Thomas M. Holland, MD, MS. He cited cases in particular of thrombosis and strokes.
Dr. Holland stated, “Erythritol triggers a surge in harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause cellular damage. Of particular concern is when these reactive oxygen species cause damage to neural tissue, which can lead to increased rates of cognitive decline.”
Furthermore, the study found that erythritol-treated cells had higher expression of two major antioxidant enzymes. This response indicates that the cells were trying to protect themselves against increased oxidative stress levels induced by erythritol exposure.
Auburn Berry, one of the researchers involved in the study, noted, “The most important point of our study is that non-nutritive sweeteners, in this case erythritol, can have negative health effects.” He further advised caution in erythritol consumption by stating, “Based on our cell studies and recent clinical studies, people should be conscious of the amount of erythritol they are consuming on a daily basis.”
Since the United States approved erythritol as a food additive in 2001, it has risen in popularity. People typically select it as a better-for-you option to support their weight management and blood sugar goals. With the weight of emerging evidence, safety concerns around its use have grown. Dr. Holland advises opting for natural sweeteners such as honey. In addition to the strong recommendations against erythritol, he recommends fruit-based alternatives, like date syrup, in place of erythritol and other artificial sweeteners.
He added, “Stevia and monk fruit extract are wonderful and appear to be safer choices for now, as they don’t appear to have the same adverse effects on oxidative stress or blood vessel health.”
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