Sugar-free energy drinks, ice creams and protein bars could be raising your risk of a life-threatening stroke, a resurfaced study suggests.
Researchers at the University of Colorado exposed human cells to the sugar-substitute erythritol in the lab at levels that they said mimicked those from a diet soda.
Analysis revealed that after just three hours, there were alarming changes to the cells from the blood-brain barrier, the brain’s security system that keeps out harmful substances while letting in nutrients.
Researchers recorded a decrease in the amount of clot-busting proteins the cells released, which is key to preventing strokes.
They also said that cells from blood vessels became dangerously constricted, raising the risk of them being blocked by a clot, causing a stroke, or the brain not receiving enough oxygen or nutrients.
The warning over the sweetener — used in zero sugar Monster Energy drinks, Halo Top ice creams and some Quest protein bars — came amid a mystery rise in strokes among young people, which have surged almost 15 percent in younger adults since 2011, according to the CDC.
Auburn Berry, a graduate student who led the research, said in a press release: ‘While erythritol is widely used in sugar-free products marketed as healthier alternatives, more research is needed to fully understand its impact on vascular health.
‘In general, people should be conscious of the amount of erythritol they are consuming on a daily basis.’