A closer look at recent headlines about the safety of xylitol and what the findings really mean for consumers, plus new research showing L-theanine can boost attention in sleep-deprived individuals.
Karunaratne, U. W., & Dassanayake, “Effect of L-theanine on selective attention in a traffic-related reaction task in sleep-deprived young adults: a double-blind placebo-controlled, crossover study.” Nutritional Neuroscience, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415X.2024.2383080
In today’s episode, there has been a rise in concern over the sweetener xylitol. In an interview with Dr. Kate Raum, we’ll get the facts on this popular sweetener. Also, if you’re tired out and having trouble focusing, we’ll look into a supplement that can help. Welcome to the Daily News.
If you’ve been following recent headlines about the safety of xylitol, you may have seen claims that the popular sweetener could be linked to higher risks of cardiovascular issues. Joining us today is Dr. Kate Raum, a naturopathic doctor here to help us understand the findings and whether there’s cause for concern.
Dr. Kate explains that the concern stems from a recent study published in the European Heart Journal that linked higher xylitol levels in blood with increased risk of blood clots and cardiovascular events like strokes. However, she emphasizes that it’s important to look at how the study was conducted to understand what it really means and whether it’s truly a cause for concern.
The study measured xylitol levels in fasting blood samples, meaning participants hadn’t eaten for 12 hours before their blood was taken. Xylitol from food naturally clears the body in about four to six hours, so any xylitol in the blood samples wasn’t from the participant’s diet—it was actually produced by their own bodies.
Dr. Kate clarifies that our bodies naturally produce xylitol. It’s called a sugar alcohol and is a byproduct of normal metabolism. Most people produce between five and fifteen grams daily, though some people produce more than others. This means the study wasn’t really looking at xylitol from food but at xylitol produced by the body. Xylitol isn’t just an alternative sweetener; it’s naturally present in foods like vegetables, plums, and strawberries and is produced by our metabolism in small amounts. The study doesn’t provide much information about the safety of xylitol as a sweetener in food.
Dr. Kate notes that in another part of the study, participants were given very high doses of xylitol in a drink, far more than typically found in food. Researchers observed increased markers of blood clotting, but these doses were much higher than people would consume from food. She explains that sugar alcohol sweeteners are notorious for causing loose stools when consumed in high amounts, meaning intake is essentially self-limiting. The amount used in the study was many times higher than what people would normally consume.
For consumers, the takeaway is that there’s no need to panic about typical xylitol use in food. Health Canada, the US FDA, and the European Food Safety Authority have all classified xylitol as safe, and it has been widely used for decades. While it’s important to continue studying its safety, this particular study doesn’t reflect the real-world use of xylitol as a sweetener.
Next, new research highlights a natural remedy that helps boost attention even when you’re running on little sleep. L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea, has shown promising results in improving selective attention in sleep-deprived individuals. In a recent study published in Nutritional Neuroscience, researchers investigated the effect of L-theanine on visual attention.
The study compared the effects of a 200-milligram dose of L-theanine with a placebo. Volunteers performed a traffic-related reaction task after a sleepless night. Participants in a computerized traffic simulation who took L-theanine showed a significant improvement in their ability to differentiate between dangerous and safe scenes. They made fewer mistakes, and their ability to focus on important details improved. According to the study, L-theanine appears to enhance selective visual attention by improving information processing speed in sleep-deprived individuals.
The findings suggest that next time your attention span fades, you might try an L-theanine supplement or a cup of tea.
Those were our top stories for today. As always, thank you so much for joining us on the Daily News.
