These days, the fashion for low-calorie alternative sweeteners, such as erythritol sugar, is spreading as an ideal choice for diabetics, obesity, and weight maintenance enthusiasts, while information about its risks and usefulness is still limited. However, a recent study found a relationship between erythritol sugar, which is known as stevia, and blood clotting diseases, stroke, heart attack, and death, according to the American “CNN” network.
Erythritol is a type of sugar alcohol, which is a carbohydrate that chemically contains the properties of both sugar and alcohol. Some types of sugar alcohols are found naturally in fruits and vegetables.
And CNN quoted specialists in the field of heart and blood vessels as saying that “the degree of danger of this sugar was not simple.”
According to the study, which was published Monday in the scientific journal Nature Medicine, “the risk rate for people who mainly suffer from heart disease and diabetes is twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke if they have high levels of erythritol in their blood.”
And the study says that “if the level of erythritol in your blood is higher than 25 percent, then the risk of heart attack and stroke doubles for the same as for patients with heart disease and diabetes.”
According to CNN, research has also revealed that erythritol causes blood platelets to clot more easily, which can cause strokes and heart or stroke attacks.
Commenting on the results of the study, Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases at a hospital in Denver, who was not involved in the research, told CNN: “You should pay attention to these serious results,” explaining that “there appears to be a risk of thrombosis in the blood vessels.” from taking erythritol.
The European Polyol Producers Association declined to comment, saying it had not reviewed the study.
