07/25/2025
Think your sugar-free snack is harmless? Think again. New research from the University of Colorado Boulder reveals a disturbing link between erythritol, a common sweetener in sugar-free, keto, and low-carb products, and serious cardiovascular damage.
Just one dose of erythritol, similar to what you'd find in a single diet soda, was shown to impair the cells lining the brain’s blood vessels. Lab tests found that erythritol reduced nitric oxide production (which helps blood vessels relax) and increased endothelin-1 (which causes vessels to constrict). This dangerous shift can increase the risk of clots, strokes, and heart attacks.
Even worse, the affected cells lost their ability to release enough t-PA, a vital enzyme that breaks down clots. This research adds weight to earlier studies showing higher blood levels of erythritol are linked with increased heart-related events.
While marketed as “safe” due to its zero-calorie profile and blood sugar neutrality, erythritol may pose serious health risks when consumed regularly. Experts now warn against overconsumption of artificial sweeteners until long-term human trials provide more conclusive answers.
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