A study has found that a common ingredient in sugar-free drinks could be increasing a consumer’s chances of having a heart attack or stroke.
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic found that a chemical known as erythritol, used in Monster energy drinks may be linked to both.
More than 4,000 people took part in the study across Denmark and the USA as scientists looked into the likelihood of blood clots forming in those who drink these drinks, compared to those who don’t.
Dr Stanley Hazen, from the Cleveland Clinic, said the results found that the sweetener could actually “enhance clotting risks”.
He said: “Sweeteners like erythritol have rapidly increased in popularity in recent years but there needs to be more in-depth research into their long-term effects.
“Cardiovascular disease builds over time, and heart disease is the leading cause of death globally.
“We need to make sure the foods we eat aren’t hidden contributors.”
Up to 6,000 people in Ireland are hospitalised by heart attacks while approximately 7,500 Irish people have a stroke each year - and around 2,000 die.
The biggest factors in causing these dangerous health conditions are high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and obesity.
Many manufacturers opt to use erythritol because it is around 70 per cent as sweet as sugar and is produced by fermenting corn.
In this latest study, published in Nature Medicine, researchers delved into the link between erythritol and the condition.
They measured levels of different chemicals in the blood of patients at risk of heart disease in the US and Denmark, before following them up three years later.
They found that in patients who had the most erythritol in their blood, the risk of death was twice as high.
Independent experts said the study showed a link between the sweetener and heart disease.
Professor Oliver Jones, of RMIT University, said: “The authors found a potentially important association between levels of erythritol in the blood and health impacts.
“They also took the trouble to show a viable way by which the effect they found could occur.
“Higher erythritol levels may increase the risk of blood clots forming and this in turn may increase the risk of disease.”
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