Popular sweetener found in many snacks may have deadly consequences

Nothing is safe, folks, not even toothpaste.

A recent study suggests that a low-calorie sweetener found in hundreds of popular snacks, toothpaste and gum may raise the risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Low-calorie sugar substitute xylitol was initially hailed as a healthy alternative because the sugar alcohol exists naturally, in small amounts, in fruit and vegetables. This distinguishes xylitol from wholly synthetic sugar substitutes like Splenda.

But it seems those healthy hopes may have been gravely misplaced.

In a study of 3,000 adults, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic found that those who consumed the most xylitol were nearly twice as likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack within three years than those who consumed limited quantities.

Upon consumption, xylitol is absorbed directly into the blood, where researchers say it activates platelets, making them more likely to clump together.

That translates to xylitol’s potential to “supercharge” blood clotting in the body, with freshly-formed clots clogging the blood vessels of the heart and brain, increasing the likelihood of conditions like stroke or heart attack.

“All it takes is xylitol to interact with platelets alone for a very brief period of time, a matter of minutes, and the platelet becomes supercharged and much more prone to clot,” Dr. Stanley Hazen, a cardiologist who led the research, told NBC News.

In addition to being potentially dangerous to humans, The Post previously reported that xylitol, originally found in birch bark, could also be fatal to your dog if consumed.

The use of sweet substitutes like xylitol has spiked in recent years amid growing concerns about obesity and the link between sugar consumption and conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, dementia and high blood pressure.

Xylitol is commonly used as a substitute sweetener because it looks and tastes like sugar but contains 40% fewer calories and does not spike blood sugar levels like table sugar.

It is added at much higher concentrations than those occurring in nature to sugar-free gum, candies, toothpaste, baked goods and products labeled “keto-friendly.”

According to Hanzen, therein lies the danger.

“We’re throwing this stuff into our food pyramid, and the very people who are most likely to be consuming it are the ones who are most likely to be at risk of heart attack and stroke,” he said.

Hazen suggests that folks check labels for xylitol and avoid it whenever possible, especially if they are predisposed to certain conditions.

Hazen recommends sweetening foods with modest amounts of sugar, honey or fruit and assures consumers that small amounts of xylitol, like those found in toothpaste or a stick of gum, are unlikely to cause serious problems.

“This study again shows the immediate need for investigating sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners, especially as they continue to be recommended in combatting conditions like obesity or diabetes,” Hazen said.