Presented as a virtuous alternative to sugar, the sweetener Erythritol, widely used in “sugar” or “lightened” products, could actually promote cardiovascular and brain diseases. An American study raises serious concerns.
Supposed to be the ally of slimming regimes and diabetics, Erythritol – this sweetener found in many processed products – is today under the fire of scientific projectors. At the 2025 summit of the American Physiology Societya team of researchers from the University of Colorado presented the results of an in vitro study showing that this substance could disturb the functioning of the blood vessels of the brain, and increase the risk of stroke or infarction.
Worrying effects on brain cells
By exposing human cell cells to Erythritol, the researchers observed an increase in oxidative stress – a chemical imbalance involved in many chronic diseases – as well as a decrease in nitrogen monoxide productionan essential compound for the proper functioning of blood vessels.
This decrease could lead to a loss of flexibility of the arteries, and therefore Promote the appearance of serious cardiovascular disorders. The study notably evokes a potential link with precursor markers of stroke or hypertension.
Erythritol, although naturally present in small quantities in certain fruits (grapes, pears) or fermented products (beer, wine, soy sauce), is used to A thousand times higher concentrations in processed foods.
Other problem: labelingoften not very explicit. The average consumer often ignores that he consumes it.
-Results to be confirmed, but a necessary vigilance
The study remains however preliminary : The tests were carried out on laboratory cells, and over a very short period (three hours). Difficult therefore, for the moment, to extrapolate the effects on a human organism over time.
However, alert signals accumulate. A previous study conducted at Cleveland Clinic had already noted a Correlation between a high level of erytyritol in the blood and an increase in major cardiovascular accidents (Stroke, infarction, death). Another study by the same team has shown that this sweetener made blood plates more reactive, which increases the risk of caillot formation.
Presented for years as a “healthy” alternative to sugar, Erythritol may well be only In addition in the arsenal of ultra-transformed products. Behind the marketing promises of “sugar-free” may be hiding a silent disruptor of our vascular and cerebral health.
While Western regimes are already marked by an explosion of metabolic diseases, the massive recourse to sweeteners raises questions. In the absence of definitive certainties, la prudence s’imposeand a return to common food also: consume fewer processed products, and more whole foods, not modified.
Illustration : DR
[cc] Breizh-info.com, 2025, free copying and distribution dispatches subject to mention and link to the original source
