The cells showed worrying changes within hours, including a decrease in the amount of clot-busting proteins they released, which is key for preventing strokes.<\/p>\n
Auburn Berry, a graduate student who led the research, said: ‘While erythritol is widely used in sugar-free products marketed as healthier alternatives, more research is needed to fully understand its impact on vascular health.<\/p>\n
‘In general, people should be conscious of the amount of erythritol they are consuming on a daily basis.’<\/p>\n
It comes amid a mystery rise in strokes in young people, which have surged almost 15 percent among under-45s since 2011 \u2014 according to CDC<\/a> data.<\/p>\n Erythritol is a wildly popular sweetener, used in drinks including Vitaminwater Zero sugar, Monster Zero and Arizona<\/a>\u00a0Iced Tea, and in Quest protein bars.\u00a0It is also found in the sweetener truvia, which is often added to coffee as a sugar replacement.<\/p>\n Although the new study was small and used isolated cells, it adds to the growing body of evidence raising concern about the sweetener.<\/p>\n A 2023 Cleveland Clinic study<\/a>\u00a0tracked 4,000 people found those who consume erythritol were more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or early death.<\/p>\n Some popular products with Erythritol include zero sugar Monster energy drinks, Vitaminwater Zero sugar and some Quest protein bars<\/p>\n The new study was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology<\/a>.<\/p>\n Researchers isolated human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells \u2014 cells that line blood vessels in the brain.<\/p>\n After exposing them to erythritol for three hours in a lab, the researchers identified several damaging changes.<\/p>\n These included the cells producing 75 percent more compounds that can damage them and surrounding tissue.<\/p>\n And they also produced about 20 percent less of a compound used to help blood vessels relax, allowing more blood to flow through and minimizing the risk of a clot.<\/p>\n Researchers also noted that erythritol decreased the production of a clot-busting protein called t-PA, which can dissolve clots and help prevent strokes.<\/p>\n In their conclusion, they said\u00a0the sweetener ‘potentially contributes to [an] increased risk of ischemic stroke’.<\/p>\n An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue.<\/p>\n This can cause brain cells to die within minutes.<\/p>\n Limitations of the study include that it was carried out in a lab outside the human body, which may not mirror internal conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n For example, it was not clear how much of the sweetener is typically absorbed by these cells in people.<\/p>\n The study also exposed the cells to the equivalent of 30 grams of erythritol.<\/p>\n The sweetner erythritol has been linked to a higher risk of stroke. It is used in VitaminWater products shown above<\/p>\n It is also used in Monster Zero products<\/p>\n The researchers claimed this was ‘equivalent to the typical amount… in an artificially sweetened beverage.’<\/p>\n But the stated amount of sweetener in the beverages typically falls below this threshold.<\/p>\n For example, Monster Energy Zero contains about two grams of erythritol \u2014 according to consumer website Open Food Facts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile Vitaminwater says less than one percent of its 500 milliliter (ml) bottles contain erythritol, or less than five grams.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/99229067-14798029-image-m-39_1749573025842.jpg\")
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