Xylitol sweetener in gums, toothpaste linked to heart attacks, strokes

Higher blood levels of xylitol, a sweetener widely used in sugar-free gums and toothpaste, have been linked to greater risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death, according to P.M. News, which cited research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2026.

Studying 17,710 people across Canadian and European cohorts, researchers found the highest xylitol group faced up to 57 percent higher cardiovascular risk.

ESC member Dan Atar called for further studies, though researchers cautioned the findings remain observational and cannot confirm xylitol directly causes these events.