Sweeteners: erythritol, xylitol and cardiovascular risk - friend or foe?

Abstract

Hyperglycemia harms vascular health and promotes platelet aggregation. Reducing glucose concentration is crucial, and sugar alcohols may aid this effort. Used for over 50 years in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, erythritol and xylitol minimally affect plasma glucose and insulin levels while promoting the release of beneficial gastrointestinal hormones such as e.g. glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). These properties make them particularly appealing for individuals with diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Recent pilot trials suggest that xylitol and erythritol might temporarily alter platelet aggregation. Studies on critically ill patients receiving large intravenous doses and Mendelian randomization trials do not link sugar alcohols to significant cardiovascular risks. Sugar alcohols are also endogenously produced in the body, and while their increased production under certain conditions is not fully understood, it requires further research. This review discusses the physiology and metabolism of erythritol and xylitol, and other sugar alcohols, their roles in metabolomic profiling, effects on platelet aggregation and cardiovascular risk, related genetic disorders, vascular impacts, and usage in critically ill patients.