Embedded Files
By Shailee Mahajan
If you consume melons, pears, fermented cheese, alcohol, or artificial sweeteners, you have most likely encountered erythritol - a type of carbohydrate known as sugar alcohol. It is one of the most common artificial sweeteners, and it is popular in foods for diabetes or weight loss. However, recent research has found that it can also have dire side effects if not consumed in moderation, including strokes, cardio/cerebrovascular events, and even death: ironically being potentially worse for one’s health than table sugar.
Erythritol is a widely used sugar substitute because it has a minimal effect on blood glucose and insulin levels while still being 60-80% as sweet as sucrose. It was approved by the FDA in 2001, and its use has been promoted for people with obesity, metabolic disorders, and diabetes to help regulate caloric consumption and glucose level in the blood. Erythritol appears naturally in some kinds of fruits and fermented foods, and is also easily absorbed in the small intestine by passive diffusion. Additionally, humans can produce erythritol from glucose and fructose through the liver and kidneys.
However, there are some major adverse effects of this sweetener. In a study of 4,000 people from the US and Europe, scientists discovered that people with a higher concentration of erythritol in circulation were significantly more likely to have a heart attack or stroke within the next 3 years. They found that cells treated with the same amount of erythritol in a typical sugar-free drink expressed a lot less nitric oxide, which relaxes and widens blood vessels, as well as increased endothelin-1, a protein that narrows vessels. In addition, it impacted the function of t-PA, a compound which breaks up blood clots. Simply, erythritol contributes to constricted blood vessels while also decreasing the body’s ability to break up clots, increasing the risk for blockage and consequently heart attack or stroke.
Erythritol is on the FDA’s list of “Generally Recognized as Safe” foods, but like many foods, if not consumed in moderation, it can have dire side effects that far surpass any consequences brought about by normal table sugar. It is important to moderate and regulate the amount of erythritol and other non-nutrient-sweeteners in one’s diet in order to make sure they are consumed safely, and this is true for all foods: balance in one’s diet is key to a healthy lifestyle.
Sources
Sources
Erythritol as sweetener—wherefrom and whereto? - PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5756564/. Accessed 25 July 2025.
Bonvissuto, Danny. “Erythritol: Uses, Benefits, and Risks.” WebMD, 26 September 2023, https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-erythritol. Accessed 25 July 2025.
“Is Erythritol Bad for You? Uses and Side Effects.” Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials, 8 January 2025, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/erythritol. Accessed 25 July 2025.
“Study: Common Sweetener Erythritol Can Impact Brain Cells, Boost Stroke Risk.” Sci.News, 16 July 2025, https://www.sci.news/medicine/erythritol-14075.html. Accessed 25 July 2025.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse