Higher blood xylitol levels linked to greater heart attack and stroke risk in two long studies

MUNICH - People with the highest blood levels of xylitol, a common sugar alcohol used as a low-calorie sweetener, had higher rates of major heart and stroke events in two long observational studies presented at the ESC Cardiology Congress in Germany.

Researchers tracked more than 17,700 Canadian and British adults. In the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, those in the top quarter for blood xylitol had a 57% higher risk of death, heart attack or stroke over six years than those in the bottom quarter. In the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk cohort, the top group had an 18% higher risk over 30 years.

Fox News and U.S. News & World Report said the links held after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, high blood pressure, diabetes and lipid levels. Both cohorts showed a dose pattern: higher xylitol levels lined up with higher event rates.

Dr. Marco Witkowski of Charite University Hospital in Berlin, who presented the work, said earlier studies found xylitol can make platelets more likely to form clots. He noted that artificial sweeteners are widely viewed as safer than sugar and are generally regarded as safe by regulators, yet long-term cardiovascular data remain thin as product use rises.

The studies do not prove xylitol causes heart attacks. Blood xylitol can also come from the body's own glucose metabolism, so high readings do not always mean high dietary intake. Cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital the clotting mechanism makes the findings worth serious attention and said he advises patients to cut processed sugars and artificial sweeteners.

Xylitol is common in sugar-free gum, toothpaste, baked goods and drinks. Older adults watching calories or blood sugar often rely on those products. The practical step is to read labels and discuss sweetener habits with a clinician, not to panic over a stick of gum.