Under the trend of "sugar control", erythritol has become the main sugar substitute ingredient of many "zero-calorie sugar" and "low-sugar foods" because of its high sweetness and "zero calories".
However, a study published in the British journal Nature Medicine on February 27 warned that the commonly used artificial sweetener erythritol may accelerate the formation of blood clots and increase the risk of stroke and heart attack.
The new study's results are surprising, and experts believe that they need to be proved
The above study comes from the Cleveland Clinic in the United States. The researchers followed up 1157 people at risk of heart disease and 8 healthy volunteers for 3 years and found that when the participants consumed processed foods containing a large amount of erythritol artificial sweetener, within a few days It has been observed that the level of erythritol in the blood is significantly increased, and the risk of blood clotting is increased. Patients with heart disease risk factors such as diabetes are twice as likely to have stroke and heart attack.
"There are limitations in this study. Clinical studies only observed correlation, not causation. Follow-up studies need to further verify the results in more general populations." Stanley, the study author and director of the Joint Department of Preventive Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic Stanley Hazen introduced that in further animal experiments, it was found that erythritol may cause platelets to clot more easily, and platelet clots can break off and move to the heart, causing a heart attack, or move to the brain, cause a stroke.
"Erythritol naturally exists in fruits and vegetables. It is used as a sweetener and has almost zero calories. It has always had a good reputation in the market. This research conclusion is really shocking." Zhang Haicheng, chief physician of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Peking University People's Hospital However, the sample size of this study is not very large, the follow-up time is not too long, and the selected healthy subjects are very small. Further research is still needed to demonstrate the results.
At present, the correlation has only been proved, but with further research, it is not impossible for the results to be overturned in the future.
Ruan Guangfeng, deputy director of the Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center, told the reporter of the "Global Times Health Client" that correlation does not mean causation, and there is absolutely no need for the public to worry too much.
Since the advent of saccharin in 1879, sweeteners have been widely used in foods and beverages such as pastries, biscuits, condiments, and candies.
The safety of sweeteners has been affirmed by the authority of many international organizations such as the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives.
my country implements a strict pre-market approval system for food additives including sweeteners. As long as the relevant food is produced and marketed in compliance with the regulations, it is safe.
Free sugar is harmful, sugar substitute has become a new demand
The authoritative medical journal "Nature" once publicly pointed out that sugar (added sugar and free sugar) is the biggest public health crisis in the world. It is like another kind of tobacco, which is a potentially harmful and addictive substance. Leading to obesity, increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, etc., is like slow suicide.
"With the improvement of people's health awareness, sugar control has indeed become a concept for many people to pursue health, and sugar substitutes are becoming more and more popular." Ruan Guangfeng said that the sweetness of sweeteners is comparable to or even surpasses that of sugar, but the calories are lower , when the total amount of meals remains unchanged, using it as a sugar substitute is very beneficial to people who have sugar control needs such as obesity and diabetes.
Moreover, the sugar remaining in the mouth will be metabolized by microorganisms to produce acid, which will corrode tooth enamel and cause dental caries.
Sweeteners cannot be metabolized by oral bacteria, which can reduce the risk of dental caries.
There are more than 20 kinds of sweeteners currently approved for use in my country, including low-power sweeteners such as erythritol, xylitol, maltitol, etc., and high-power sweeteners such as cyclamate, saccharin, and aspartame , Acesulfame K, Sucralose, Steviol Glycoside, Mogroside, etc.
Ruan Guangfeng said that compared with traditional sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame, and cyclamate, erythritol is the "new favorite" in the market in recent years.
In my country, the production capacity has increased from 50,000 tons to 300,000 tons in about two years.
The biggest advantage of erythritol is that it tastes relatively better, and it is the preferred "star sugar substitute" in many "low sugar" and "low calorie" drinks and foods.
In addition, according to the "General Principles of Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods" (GB28050-2011), the energy coefficient of erythritol is 0 kJ/g, while that of other sugar alcohols is 10 kJ/g, so it is also a popular "zero Card sugar" one.
Control sugar reasonably, beware of the trap of "low calorie" and "zero sugar"
Sweeteners are currently recommended as a dietary choice for diabetics.
The "Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in China" pointed out that diabetics with a sweet tooth can take in sugar alcohols and non-nutritive sweeteners appropriately (high-intensity sweeteners and erythritol provide almost no energy and are non-nutritive sweeteners) .
"Dietary Guidelines for Adults with Diabetes" pointed out that it is safe for diabetics to consume non-nutritive sweetener foods/beverages appropriately.
However, experts remind that the role of sweeteners should not be overly exaggerated, and it cannot promote weight loss and improve metabolism.
In addition, consumers should be wary of the illusion brought about by "zero calories". Some consumers may neglect to control their intake because of the relatively low calories of zero-sugar, low-calorie (using sugar substitute) foods or beverages, and end up eating more More, for an extra boost of energy intake.
Ruan Guangfeng said that foods and beverages that use sweeteners as sugar substitutes are not necessarily "energy-free". He suggested that the public should choose products reasonably by reading the food ingredient list and nutritional composition list.
For example, people with high blood sugar should pay attention to starchy carbohydrates in food ingredients that can cause blood sugar to rise, or refer to the doctor's advice to choose products.
In addition, individual groups of people may experience diarrhea after a large intake of sugar alcohols in a short period of time. This is a type of osmotic diarrhea, which is different from diarrhea caused by microorganisms in daily life and is not a food safety issue.
Different people have great differences in their tolerance to sugar alcohols. It is recommended to choose according to their own conditions and eat in moderation.
Finally, Zhang Haicheng emphasized that foods rich in carbohydrates, such as steamed buns, rice, and noodles, will also be converted into a large amount of glucose during the digestion process, and the intake should be controlled.
In fact, regardless of the general healthy population, or the high-risk population of cardiovascular disease with high-risk factors such as diabetes, and patients with cardiovascular disease, a healthy diet is not only about controlling sugar, but also paying attention to a reasonable diet and eating a dynamic balance. Only in this way can blood pressure, Indicators such as blood sugar, blood lipids, and heart rate remain healthy and stable for a long time.
(Global Times Health Client)