{
  "id": 4616798,
  "title": "People think this is healthy, but it was just linked to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/people-think-this-is-healthy-but-it-was-just-linked-to-increased-risk",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-31T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91598085/xylitol-artificial-sweetener-healthy-fake-sugar-linked-to-heart-attack-stroke-death-risk-new-research"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Xylitol, a popular sugar substitute and naturally occurring alcohol, has gained popularity as a health-conscious alternative to conventional artificial sweeteners. Frequently found in sugar-free sodas, foods, and oral hygiene products, xylitol is marketed for its zero sugar, low-calorie properties and minimal impact on blood sugar. However, a recent study from the European Society of Cardiology has revealed a potential link between xylitol consumption and increased cardiovascular risk.\n\nResearchers in Germany analyzed data from two large, long-term population studies, comprising 17,710 participants. After tracking these individuals for six years, the study found that those with the highest levels of xylitol in their blood experienced a 57% higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, or death, compared to those with lower levels.\n\nThe lead author of the study, Dr. Marco Witkowski, a cardiologist at Charité University Hospital in Berlin, explained that prior research has shown that xylitol can enhance platelet clot formation. In a previous three-year study, high blood levels of xylitol were linked to cardiovascular events in high-risk individuals. This new six-year study aimed to determine if xylitol increases cardiovascular events in a broader general population over an extended period.\n\nDespite its increasing use in a wide range of products, the study concludes that the long-term impact of xylitol on heart health remains unclear.",
  "summary": "Xylitol is a popular sugar substitute and a naturally occurring alcohol in the body and in some foods. And many people may think it’s healthy, because it has zero sugar, is low in calories, and it’s marketed as an alternative to more conventional artificial sweeteners that contain saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose, which may be linked to cancer (although the verdict remains inconclusive).…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}