Erythritol is increasingly used as a ‘less harmful’ alternative to sugar. Getty
Erythritol is increasingly used as a ‘less harmful’ alternative to sugar. Getty
Erythritol is increasingly used as a ‘less harmful’ alternative to sugar. Getty
Erythritol is increasingly used as a ‘less harmful’ alternative to sugar. Getty

Artificial sweetener in diet drinks and protein bars may increase risk of heart attack


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

Hidden artificial sweeteners used in sugar-free products and diet drinks could lead to increased risk of a heart attack or stroke, US researchers said.

Erythritol is a naturally occurring substance in many fruits such as peaches, grapes, pears and watermelons, but is also added as a sweetener to food and drinks.

Commonly found in diet foods, frozen desserts, protein bars, chewing gum and fruit spreads, erythritol has become increasingly used as a ‘less harmful’ alternative to sugar by providing sweetness without triggering a spike in blood glucose.

But the research found it can make platelets in the blood more likely to “activate” — release molecules into the blood — and form a clot.

Cardiovascular disease builds over time, and we need to make sure the foods we eat aren’t hidden contributors
Dr Stanley Hazen of Cleveland Clinic

As erythritol is low on the glycemic index, it is ideal for diabetics and people following low-carb diets and is much lower in calories than regular sugar.

Cleveland Clinic researchers studied 4,000 people to assess the health impact of erythritol and published the results in the Nature Medicine journal.

The study found those with higher blood erythritol levels were at elevated risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event such as a heart attack, stroke or death.

“Cardiovascular disease builds over time, and heart disease is the leading cause of death globally,” said Dr Stanley Hazen, chairman of the department of cardiovascular and metabolic sciences at Lerner Research Institute and co-section head of preventive cardiology at Cleveland Clinic.

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    University of Michigan researchers say hot dogs are one of the biggest unhealthy culprits as they take 36 minutes away from a person's lifespan. Unsplash
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“We need to make sure the foods we eat aren’t hidden contributors.

“Our study shows that when participants consumed an artificially sweetened beverage with an amount of erythritol found in many processed foods, markedly elevated levels in the blood are observed for days — levels well above those observed to enhance clotting risks.”

He encouraged further research into the long-term effects of erythritol.

Researchers examined the effects of adding erythritol to either whole blood or isolated platelets, which are cell fragments that clump together to stop bleeding and contribute to blood clots.

Results revealed that erythritol made platelets easier to activate and form a clot, while preclinical studies confirmed ingestion of erythritol heightened clot formation.

Erythritol is about 70 per cent as sweet as sugar and is produced through fermenting corn.

It is often recommended to people looking for an alternative to sugar to manage body weight.

Erythritol is generally recognised as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration which means there is no requirement for long-term studies into its effects, despite the recommendation from doctors.

“It is important that further safety studies are conducted to examine the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners in general, and erythritol specifically, on risks for heart attack and stroke, particularly in people at higher risk for cardiovascular disease,” said Dr Hazen.

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2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

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Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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Match info

UAE v Bolivia, Friday, 6.25pm, Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium, Dubai

Review: Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, Walter Goggins
​​​​​​​two stars

Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

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2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

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2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

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HIJRA

Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy

Director: Shahad Ameen

Rating: 3/5

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Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE

2021 World Triathlon Championship Series

May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Racecard

6pm: Mina Hamriya – Handicap (TB) $75,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

6.35pm: Al Wasl Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m

7.10pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,900m

7.45pm: Blue Point Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,000m

8.20pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (T) 2,810m

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Match info

Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')

The five pillars of Islam

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3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Silent Hill f

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs: 2019 Haval H6

Price, base: Dh69,900

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
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Updated: February 28, 2023, 8:32 AM