In at this time’s publication, we’re breaking down the examine that claimed xylitol is unhealthy on your coronary heart, why the science doesn’t maintain up, and what many years of actual analysis say as an alternative.
And pregnant mothers—don’t miss the tip on the finish. It’s some of the highly effective (and simple) methods to guard your child’s future oral well being.
Since that examine got here out final 12 months, I’ve obtained a whole lot of questions like:
“Isn’t xylitol unhealthy on your coronary heart?”
“Ought to I cease utilizing xylitol toothpaste?”
No shock individuals are nonetheless confused—when weak science will get paired with sensational headlines, it creates quite a lot of worry.
Right here’s why that examine was deeply flawed, poorly designed, and irresponsibly reported:
1. The examine didn’t exclude folks with present coronary heart illness—actually, 46% of members already had it. That’s an enormous purple flag, as a result of it blurs the road between correlation and causation. Was xylitol the problem… or only a byproduct of poor metabolic well being?
2. In mice, the researchers used extraordinarily excessive doses of xylitol—equal to over 30 grams in a single sitting for a human. That’s far past typical use and would possible trigger diarrhea and GI upset earlier than anything. The examine bypassed regular digestion too, utilizing direct injection, which doesn’t mirror how people eat xylitol.
3. The examine additionally didn’t management for sugar consumption—a significant oversight, since dietary sugar is a widely known driver of heart problems. With out accounting for that, how can we all know whether or not xylitol was truly the issue—or only a bystander?
4. The examine explicitly states that its findings don’t apply to xylitol utilized in oral care—however you wouldn’t know that from the headlines. Media protection failed to say this important element, leaving folks afraid of the very ingredient that protects their enamel.
This wasn’t a randomized managed trial—the gold normal in scientific analysis. It was an observational examine, with so many uncontrolled variables that its conclusions are, frankly, unreliable.
When this examine first got here out, I took it severely. The claims had been alarming, and I wished to know whether or not there was something new I wanted to rethink. However as soon as I dug into the precise knowledge, it was clear the science didn’t maintain up. The examine design was weak, the conclusions had been overstated, and it ignored many years of strong analysis exhibiting xylitol’s clear advantages.
What proof do we have now on xylitol?
1. Xylitol has been studied because the Nineteen Seventies, significantly in Scandinavia, the place it was first evaluated in public oral well being applications.
2. Landmark trials just like the Turku Sugar Research (Finland, Nineteen Seventies) had been among the many first to point out that changing sucrose with xylitol dramatically decreased caries incidence. It was one of many first massive, long-term human research to point out that xylitol may cut back cavities even higher than simply reducing again on sugar.
3. A 2015 Cochrane Evaluation analyzed knowledge from 10 research and located constant proof that xylitol-containing merchandise decreased cavity-causing micro organism and dental caries danger—particularly in kids.
4. The European Meals Security Authority (EFSA) permits xylitol to hold the well being declare: “Chewing gum sweetened with xylitol helps cut back the danger of tooth decay.”
5. For the pregnant mothers studying, this one is unimaginable: Xylitol has been included in maternal oral well being protocols to cut back early colonization of cariogenic micro organism in infants.
Xylitol is without doubt one of the most well-studied substances in oral well being. Not solely is xylitol secure—it’s efficient. Analysis persistently exhibits it reduces Streptococcus mutanslowers oral acidity, and helps remineralization by stimulating saliva movement. That’s why it’s in Fygg, the toothpaste I formulated together with my co-founders.
And, it’s price asking—why would an ingredient with a powerful security report and many years of analysis behind it out of the blue come underneath fireplace? Particularly one which replaces sugar, improves metabolic well being, and isn’t straightforward to revenue from at scale 🤨
Have you ever had somebody inform you to cease utilizing xylitol? Ahead them this e mail. And in the event you’ve seen enhancements since switching to xylitol toothpaste or mints, hit reply—I’d love to listen to your story.
Mark
P.S. Talking of unimaginable, science-based methods to enhance your oral well being…this text is sponsored by my favourite magnesium complement which I like to recommend to 99% of my sufferers. In the event you’re on the lookout for a extremely absorbable, full-spectrum choice to assist sleep, temper, and muscle restoration, THIS is my go-to.
P.P.S. I do know your inbox is full, and it means lots that you just’ve made all of it the way in which to the tip of this e mail. I hear from a whole lot of you every week—and whereas I can’t reply to each message, I do learn each. Your questions, your tales, your suggestions—they form the work I do. So in the event you’ve ever hit reply, thanks. And if at this time’s message helped you are feeling a little bit extra knowledgeable or empowered, that’s precisely why I do that.
