Overview
- Erythritol exposure at levels seen after a typical sweetened drink harmed human blood–brain barrier cells in vitro, suggesting mechanisms that could raise ischemic stroke risk.
- The CU Boulder team reported oxidative stress, reduced nitric oxide, elevated endothelin‑1, and impaired release of a key clot‑dissolving enzyme in endothelial cells.
- Authors cautioned the findings come from isolated cell experiments and urged blood‑vessel‑on‑a‑chip studies, animal models, and clinical research to assess real‑world risk and thresholds.
- Recent reports connect the lab results to earlier observational studies in humans that linked higher circulating erythritol to greater rates of major cardiac events, including roughly doubled risk in top exposure groups.
- The sweetener remains widely used in sugar‑free and keto‑labeled products such as energy drinks, protein bars, ice cream, and gum, with FDA and European approvals still in place and WHO advising against nonsugar sweeteners for weight control generally.