New health report: Beware of “sugar-free” products.

Researchers warn that some sugar-free products, such as energy drinks, ice cream and protein bars, may not be as safe as thought, after a recent study linked one of their common sweeteners to a possible increase in stroke risk.

Researchers from the University of Colorado conducted laboratory experiments in which they exposed human cells to erythritol, a commonly used sweetener as a sugar substitute, at concentrations that mimic those found in some diet drinks.

The results showed alarming changes in the blood-brain barrier cells, which are responsible for protecting the brain and regulating the passage of substances to it. A decrease in the secretion of proteins that dissolve clots and an increase in the ability of blood vessels to narrow were observed, which may increase the risk of clots forming that impede blood flow to the brain.

The researchers noted that these findings could mean that erythritol is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke , a condition that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked, preventing oxygen from reaching the brain and leading to cell damage within minutes.

The publication of the study coincided with health reports indicating a significant rise in stroke rates among younger adults, an increase of nearly 15 percent since 2011.

Although the study was conducted on isolated cells outside the body, which is one of its major scientific limitations, it joins a series of previous studies that have raised questions about the safety of some artificial sweeteners.

In 2023, a study involving more than 1,000 patients showed that those with high levels of erythritol in their blood were nearly twice as likely to experience serious heart events compared to others.

It is worth noting that erythritol is a sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in small quantities in the human body and is about 80 percent as sweet as sugar, while other sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose are manufactured artificially and are about 600 times as sweet as sugar.

While sugar substitutes are used to reduce calorie intake and support diets, researchers emphasize that their long-term effects on blood vessels and the microbiome still require further study.