In at the moment’s e-newsletter, we’re breaking down the examine that claimed xylitol is unhealthy to your coronary heart, why the science doesn’t maintain up, and what a long time 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 straightforward) methods to guard your child’s future oral well being.
Since that examine got here out final yr, I’ve obtained lots of of questions like:
“Isn’t xylitol unhealthy to 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 loads of concern.
Right here’s why that examine was deeply flawed, poorly designed, and irresponsibly reported:
1. The examine didn’t exclude folks with current 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 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 possible trigger diarrhea and GI upset earlier than the rest. The examine bypassed regular digestion too, utilizing direct injection, which doesn’t replicate 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 really 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 significant element, leaving folks afraid of the very ingredient that protects their enamel.
This wasn’t a randomized managed trial—the gold normal in medical 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 have 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 information, it was clear the science didn’t maintain up. The examine design was weak, the conclusions have been overstated, and it ignored a long time of stable analysis displaying xylitol’s clear advantages.
What proof do we’ve got on xylitol?
1. Xylitol has been studied for the reason that Nineteen Seventies, significantly in Scandinavia, the place it was first evaluated in public oral well being packages.
2. Landmark trials just like the Turku Sugar Research (Finland, Nineteen Seventies) have 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 might cut back cavities even higher than simply chopping again on sugar.
3. A 2015 Cochrane Evaluate analyzed information from 10 research and located constant proof that xylitol-containing merchandise decreased cavity-causing micro organism and dental caries danger—particularly in youngsters.
4. The European Meals Security Authority (EFSA) permits xylitol to hold the well being declare: “Chewing gum sweetened with xylitol helps cut back the chance of tooth decay.”
5. For the pregnant mothers studying, this one is unimaginable: Xylitol has been included in maternal oral well being protocols to scale 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 protected—it’s efficient. Analysis constantly exhibits it reduces Streptococcus mutans, lowers 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 value asking—why would an ingredient with a robust security file and a long time of analysis behind it immediately come below fireplace? Particularly one which replaces sugar, improves metabolic well being, and isn’t straightforward to revenue from at scale 🤨
Have you ever had somebody let you know to cease utilizing xylitol? Ahead them this e-mail. And if you happen to’ve observed 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 case you’re in search of a extremely absorbable, full-spectrum choice to help sleep, temper, and muscle restoration, THIS is my go-to.
P.P.S. I do know your inbox is full, and it means so much that you just’ve made all of it the best way to the tip of this e-mail. I hear from lots 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 if you happen to’ve ever hit reply, thanks. And if at the moment’s message helped you’re feeling slightly extra knowledgeable or empowered, that’s precisely why I do that.