In in the present day’s e-newsletter, we’re breaking down the research that claimed xylitol is dangerous on your coronary heart, why the science doesn’t maintain up, and what many years of actual analysis say as a substitute.
And pregnant mothers—don’t miss the tip on the finish. It’s one of the highly effective (and simple) methods to guard your child’s future oral well being.
Since that research got here out final yr, I’ve obtained tons of of questions like:
“Isn’t xylitol dangerous on your coronary heart?”
“Ought to I cease utilizing xylitol toothpaste?”
No shock persons are nonetheless confused—when weak science will get paired with sensational headlines, it creates quite a lot of concern.
Right here’s why that research was deeply flawed, poorly designed, and irresponsibly reported:
1. The research didn’t exclude folks with current coronary heart illness—the truth is, 46% of contributors already had it. That’s an enormous pink flag, as a result of it blurs the road between correlation and causation. Was xylitol the difficulty… 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 seemingly trigger diarrhea and GI upset earlier than anything. The research bypassed regular digestion too, utilizing direct injection, which doesn’t replicate how people eat xylitol.
3. The research additionally didn’t management for sugar consumption—a serious oversight, since dietary sugar is a well 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 research 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 commonplace in medical analysis. It was an observational research, with so many uncontrolled variables that its conclusions are, frankly, unreliable.
When this research first got here out, I took it significantly. The claims had been alarming, and I needed 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 research design was weak, the conclusions had been overstated, and it ignored many years of stable analysis displaying xylitol’s clear advantages.
What proof do we’ve on xylitol?
1. Xylitol has been studied for the reason that Nineteen Seventies, notably 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 indicate that changing sucrose with xylitol dramatically diminished caries incidence. It was one of many first giant, long-term human research to indicate that xylitol might scale back cavities even higher than simply slicing again on sugar.
3. A 2015 Cochrane Evaluate analyzed knowledge from 10 research and located constant proof that xylitol-containing merchandise diminished 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 scale back the danger of tooth decay.”
5. For the pregnant mothers studying, this one is unbelievable: Xylitol has been included in maternal oral well being protocols to cut back early colonization of cariogenic micro organism in infants.
Xylitol is likely one of the most well-studied substances in oral well being. Not solely is xylitol protected—it’s efficient. Analysis constantly exhibits it reduces Streptococcus mutans, lowers oral acidity, and helps remineralization by stimulating saliva circulate. That’s why it’s in Fygg, the toothpaste I formulated together with my co-founders.
And, it’s value asking—why would an ingredient with a robust security report and many years of analysis behind it all of a sudden come beneath hearth? Particularly one which replaces sugar, improves metabolic well being, and isn’t simple to revenue from at scale 🤨
Have you ever had somebody let you know to cease utilizing xylitol? Ahead them this electronic mail. And for those who’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 unbelievable, 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 case you’re in search of 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 quite a bit that you simply’ve made all of it the way in which to the top of this electronic mail. I hear from tons of of you every week—and whereas I can’t reply to each message, I do learn every one. Your questions, your tales, your suggestions—they form the work I do. So for those who’ve ever hit reply, thanks. And if in the present day’s message helped you’re feeling slightly extra knowledgeable or empowered, that’s precisely why I do that.