It's erythritol

Erythritol may impair cellular functions essential to maintaining brain blood vessel health, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. Findings suggest that erythritol increases oxidative stress, disrupts nitric oxide signaling, raises vasoconstrictive peptide production, and diminishes clot-dissolving capacity in human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Pretty sure another study found Xylitol might have the same issue. I'm personally avoiding sugar alcohols at this point. That said, it severely limits sweetener options for people that have blood sugar issues.

I can't touch sugar alcohols.

If I even look at them, I'll spend the next week on the toilet.

I have to avoid a lot of the low fat/low carb foods because they use this. Also almost anything sweetened with monkfruit has this in it.

It seems to not effect my coke zeros lol, think thats the only thing I use with a sugar sub but I def abuse it. Still gotta be better than the calories I used to consume.

Doesn't sound good

Erythritol may impair cellular functions essential to maintaining brain blood vessel health, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. Findings suggest that erythritol increases oxidative stress, disrupts nitric oxide signaling, raises vasoconstrictive peptide production, and diminishes clot-dissolving capacity in human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Erythritol has become a fixture in the ingredient lists of protein bars, low-calorie beverages, and diabetic-friendly baked goods.

Asshole clickbait headline.

Actual article https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/japplphysiol.00276.2025

Just from the abstract caveats:

The study was in vitro (cultured cells).

The study treated it as if ingested erythritol (in a "beverage") was 100% transported to the blood and not diluted by being in a larger volume.

ELI5: What products, specifically, does this impact? Not generic "low-calorie beverages/diabetic friendly baked goods, etc., but is there anything specifically that I should be on alert for?