Erythritol and brain blood vessel cells in the lab
What it found
In lab tests, human brain blood vessel cells treated with erythritol showed more oxidative stress and changes in substances that affect blood flow and clotting.
This was done in cells, not in people.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Oxidative stress
Treated cells made much more reactive oxygen species than untreated cells. Levels of two antioxidant proteins, superoxide dismutase-1 and catalase, were also higher in treated cells.
Nitric oxide enzyme
The total amount of the enzyme eNOS was about the same in both groups. But the active form, p-eNOS at Ser1177, was lower in treated cells, and another form, p-eNOS at Thr495, was higher.
Nitric oxide production
Treated cells produced less nitric oxide than untreated cells.
Endothelin-1
Treated cells made more Big ET-1 and released more endothelin-1 than untreated cells.
Clot-dissolving release
When thrombin was added, untreated cells released more t-PA, but treated cells did not. The authors describe this release as blunted.
What the authors conclude
“In summary, erythritol adversely affects oxidative stress, NO production, ET-1 production, and t-PA release in brain microvascular endothelial cells, potentially contributing to the increased risk of ischemic stroke associated with erythritol.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that erythritol adversely affects oxidative stress, nitric oxide production, endothelin-1 production, and t-PA release in brain microvascular endothelial cells.
- They say this could potentially contribute to the increased risk of ischemic stroke associated with erythritol.
How it was done
Erythritol is a common sweetener, and the authors note it has been linked to a higher risk of heart and brain blood vessel problems. They wanted to see whether it affects the cells lining blood vessels in the brain.
Human brain microvascular endothelial cells were grown in the lab and treated with 6 mM erythritol, about the amount in a 30 g serving in an artificially sweetened drink, for 3 hours. Untreated cells were used for comparison.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab tests on human cells, not studies in people. They cannot show what happens in the body after eating or drinking erythritol.
- The cells were exposed for 3 hours to one concentration. This does not show the effects of longer or repeated exposure.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by American Heart Association (AHA) (from the PubMed record).
- Authors work at
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, United States
The paper
- Title
- The non-nutritive sweetener erythritol adversely affects brain microvascular endothelial cell function
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Berry AR, Ruzzene ST, Ostrander EI, et al (2025). The non-nutritive sweetener erythritol adversely affects brain microvascular endothelial cell function. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md.. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00276.2025PubMed 40459966DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error