By Tejal Somvanshi
The study of nearly 1,200 people found that those with high levels of erythritol in their blood were up to twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke compared to those with the lowest levels.
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Experts think opting for sugar-sweetened treats occasionally and in small amounts would be preferable to consuming foods and drinks sweetened with these sugar alcohols
At the time, lab research had suggested that erythritol produced this harmful effect on the heart by stimulating clot-forming platelets.
Blood levels of erythritol increased 1,000-fold after consuming the erythritol beverage, while blood sugar levels rose only slightly after the glucose beverage.
Artificially created erythritol, along with its cousins, is considered "generally recognized as safe," or GRAS, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
With erythritol is that platelets become super-reactive: Just a mere 10% of a stimulant produces between 90% and 100% of clot formation.
The human body also produces erythritol as a byproduct of glucose metabolism, but only in small quantities.
It looks and tastes like sugar and can be used in baking. It is also a key ingredient in many keto-friendly products, such as ice cream.
It has about 70% of the sweetness of sugar and is considered zero-calorie, according to experts.
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