Dietitian Says 2023 Erythritol Study Showed Association, Not Cause, in Heart Attack Risk
Updated
Updated · The Advocate · Aug 16
Dietitian Says 2023 Erythritol Study Showed Association, Not Cause, in Heart Attack Risk
1 articles · Updated · The Advocate · Aug 16
Summary
Molly Kimball said the 2023 Nature Medicine study tied higher blood erythritol levels to heart attacks and strokes but did not prove that eating erythritol caused those events.
2001-2007 blood samples used in the study predated many erythritol products, she noted, meaning elevated levels likely reflected erythritol the body produces naturally rather than dietary intake.
Several later studies have suggested erythritol may raise platelet activity and clotting potential under some conditions, but Kimball said the evidence remains less robust than the well-established harms of excess added sugar.
People with stroke, cardiovascular disease or clotting disorders should discuss major diet changes with a clinician, while most consumers can view erythritol as one tool to cut sugar as research continues.
Kimball said the broader goal is to reduce sweetness overall—such as cutting sugar in drinks by 25% at a time—rather than searching for a perfect substitute.