Dr White

The latest study confirms the damage of sugar substitutes, can sugar-free drinks still be drunk?

By Dr White

 


It is human nature to refuse sweets, and modern people are really afraid of gaining weight, and eating too much sugar can bring many health problems.

So sugar substitutes have become the perfect choice for many people: they are "sweet free" and low in calories, which is a two-for-one choice for many people.

But although sugar substitutes are good, you can't be greedy.

For example, erythritol is a widely used sugar substitute in many sugar-free drinks and foods. Recent studies have found that although it is low in calories, it can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease to some extent.

Sugar substitute, not a perfect substitute for sugar

A recent paper published in the journal Nature Medicine confirms that there may be a causal link between the intake of polyol sweeteners, particularly erythritol, and increased cardiovascular risk.

In separate studies conducted in the United States and Europe, covering 2982 individuals at high cardiovascular risk, erythritol intake was found to increase the risk of atherothrombosis in subjects by up to two times the conventional value.

The researchers used in vitro and in vivo tests to reveal the mechanisms by which erythritol affects cardiovascular health.

When erythritol reaches a certain concentration in the blood, it increases platelet aggregation, leading to thrombosis, and if this coincides with arterial damage, there is a higher risk of blood vessel obstruction.

Erythritol and myocardial ischemic complications.
Erythritol induces platelet aggregation and activation, which may promote vascular obstruction and accelerate the development of myocardial infarction in patients with coronary artery disease

Moreover, the accumulated concentration of erythritol can exceed the threshold for thrombosis in in vitro tests. This means that drinking one bottle of a common sugar-free beverage per day exposes you to 2 times the risk of arterial thrombosis: 1 bottle of sugar-free beverage (about 480 ml) ≈ 18 g erythritol ≈ 2 times the cardiovascular risk.

1 bottle of sugar-free beverage (about 480 ml) ≈ 18 g of erythritol ≈ 2 times the cardiovascular risk.

However, the above study was conducted on people who are already obese, have high blood pressure and arterial thrombosis, a group that is usually more dependent on sugar substitutes and is more affected.

Strictly speaking, further research is needed to determine whether the "increased risk" shown in this study can be extended to the general population.

Overall, the current use of sugar substitutes to replace sucrose and syrup in foods is still a reasonable option, but it would be counterproductive to leave sugar substitutes unchecked because they are low in calories.

Can sugar-free drinks still be drunk?

The answer is, you can drink, but in moderation.

If you are in the habit of drinking carbonated drinks and milk tea, and it is difficult to restrain them, it is good to replace them with sugar substitutes to temporarily satisfy the sweetness needs. After all, the overall health burden of sugar substitutes is less than that of sucrose and fructose syrup.


If you belong to a group of people with high cardiovascular risk who have been diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension and usually use sugar substitutes, or choose sugar substitute foods, it is recommended to avoid erythritol and choose other varieties.

Clarifying the health risks of sugar substitutes does not completely negate the value of their existence, but rather reminds us to use them in a rational and moderate manner and to understand them more comprehensively and objectively.

Research on diet is still being updated, but one thing is clear: there is no such thing as superfoods or junk food.

No matter how you eat, balance and moderation is the key.


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