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ESC Congress 2026 Abstract

Higher blood xylitol linked to cardiovascular event risk

Hazard ratios, comparing event rates over time, were 1.47 in Canada and 1.18 in the UK for the highest versus lowest quarter of blood xylitol levels.

Paper by T M Zheng, I D Stewart, U Makhmudova, 5 more authorsM Witkowski · McGill University Health Centre
Blood cells with dense molecules sit beside a damaged gray heart, while a smaller group with sparse molecules sits beside an intact heart.
Cohort study of 17,710 people in Canada and the UK, against Q1Populations

Limit: Blood xylitol levels were measured; dietary xylitol consumption was not measured

Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News

Paper
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Two prospective observational cohort studies included 17,710 people in Canada and the UK, with a mean age of 60.9 years. Researchers analyzed blood levels of xylitol, a low-calorie sweetener, and examined later heart attacks, strokes or deaths. The Canadian cohort included 7,651 people; the UK cohort included 10,059.

During six years of Canadian follow-up, 2,950 events occurred. During 30 years of UK follow-up, 5,670 events occurred. Higher blood xylitol levels were associated with higher event risk after accounting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The association held across subgroups with different starting health characteristics and preexisting heart and metabolic risk factors.

Why it matters

Preventing heart attacks and strokes matters for health in later life. The findings suggest blood xylitol may help identify cardiovascular risk beyond traditional risk factors.

Caveats

These observational studies cannot show that xylitol caused events or that consuming it increased risk. The report is a conference abstract about blood levels, not a trial of xylitol consumption.

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