A study published in the British journal Nature Medicine on the 28th suggested that erythritol, a commonly used artificial sweetener, may be related to heart disease events. Artificial sweeteners are used in foods and beverages to reduce sugar and calorie intake. It is often recommended as an alternative to sugar for patients with metabolic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Regulators generally believe that these sweeteners are safe, but few studies have investigated their long-term health effects. Erythritol is a commonly used sugar substitute. It is naturally formed. It contains low level of erythritol in fruits and vegetables, but it is added to processed products at a high level. Researchers from the Cleveland Medical Center of the United States conducted a preliminary study in 1157 people who had undergone heart disease risk assessment and had 3-year outcome data. By analyzing the chemical substances in the blood, the team observed that the compound levels of various artificial sweeteners (especially erythritol) were related to the increased risk of heart disease and stroke in the future during the three-year follow-up. This correlation was confirmed in the independent array study, which conducted selective cardiac assessment in the United States and Europe. Further research by the team showed that erythritol in whole blood or platelets led to the acceleration of thrombosis, which was confirmed in animal model research. The researchers also conducted a prospective intervention study among 8 healthy volunteers. After 30 g of erythritol beverage was consumed by volunteers, the plasma level was tested, and it was found that the level of erythritol in all volunteers continued to increase, exceeding the threshold of increased coagulation risk in 2-3 days. Researchers believe that this finding may indicate that the increased level of erythritol is related to the increased risk of thrombosis. However, they also pointed out that the incidence of vascular risk factors in the array center of this study is high, and it is still necessary to confirm whether similar results can be observed in the long-term follow-up of apparently healthy subjects. (Xinhua News Agency)