The Claim

Higher plasma erythritol levels are associated with a significantly increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including death, nonfatal heart attack, or stroke, in adults undergoing cardiac evaluation, with those in the highest quartile exhibiting an 80% to 121% higher adjusted risk compared to those in the lowest quartile, after controlling for age, diabetes, smoking, and cholesterol levels.

Source: The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
59score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Adults with higher levels of erythritol in their blood have a significantly higher rate of heart attacks, strokes, or death compared to those with lower levels, even when accounting for other known risk factors like age, diabetes, and cholesterol.

See the scientific wording

Higher plasma erythritol levels are associated with a significantly increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including death, nonfatal heart attack, or stroke, across three independent cohorts of adults undergoing cardiac evaluation, with individuals in the highest quartile of erythritol levels showing an 80% to 121% higher adjusted risk compared to those in the lowest quartile, even after accounting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as age, diabetes, smoking, and cholesterol levels.

Why this might work

When erythritol enters the blood, it makes platelets more reactive to signals that trigger clotting. This causes platelets to release more calcium, stick together more easily, and form clots faster inside arteries, which can block blood flow and cause heart attacks or strokes.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk

    People who have more erythritol in their blood—often from eating sugar-free foods—were found to be much more likely to have heart attacks, strokes, or die from heart problems, even when other risks like diabetes were considered. The study also showed erythritol makes blood clot more easily, which could explain why.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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