A University of Colorado Boulder study has shown that even amounts similar to what you’d get in one sugar-free drink may negatively affect blood vessels in the brain. Reduced nitric oxide (less vessel relaxation), more endothelin-1 (vessel constriction), impaired clot breakdown, and higher levels of inflammation and free radicals were all observed.
This builds on earlier research linking high blood levels of erythritol to increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
It’s a good reminder that “sugar-free” doesn’t always mean “risk-free.” Food swaps are worth a closer look — especially when it comes to long-term health.
What the Study Found
A paper published in the Journal of Applied Physiology in June 2025 details how erythritol, at levels found in a typical sugar-free beverage, can negatively affect the cells lining brain blood vessels (human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells) in lab tests.Physiology JournalsFAB Research LibraryCU Experts
Some key results:
- Oxidative stress increased: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels rose from around 105% to about 204% of control levels. Antioxidant proteins SOD-1 and catalase also increased, a sign of cellular response to stress.FAB Research LibraryMedical XpressNews-Medical
- Nitric oxide (NO) dropped: Phosphorylation at the activating site of eNOS (Ser1177) fell by ~33%, while inhibitory phosphorylation (Thr495) rose by ~39%. Overall NO production fell roughly 20%.FAB Research LibraryMedical XpressNews-Medical
- Vasoconstrictors increased: Levels of endothelin-1, which narrows blood vessels, rose significantly (from ~27 to ~35 pg/mL).FAB Research LibraryMedical XpressNews-Medical
- Reduced clot-busting capacity: Release of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) crucial for breaking down clots, was notably reduced in response to clot-forming stimulation.FAB Research LibraryMedical XpressEurekAlert!
Why This Matters
The combined effect of these changes, more oxidative stress, lower NO (less vessel dilation), higher vasoconstriction, and reduced ability to dissolve clots, suggests erythritol could subtly impair brain blood vessel function. This aligns with earlier population studies linking higher erythritol levels in the blood to greater risks of heart attack and stroke.EurekAlert!DefaultNews-Medical
The authors stress these results are from in vitro, controlled lab conditions, not from human or animal trials, so it’s not proof of harm, but it does raise important red flags needing deeper investigation.Science News Today
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