Medical News Today (MNT)6 Popular Herbal Supplements Linked to Potential Liver Risks

Read the original article

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that approximately 15.6 million U.S. adults, or 5% of the population, have consumed at least one potentially hepatotoxic herbal supplement in the past 30 days. This finding highlights the growing popularity of herbal supplements and the associated risks to liver health, emphasizing the need for increased awareness among healthcare providers and patients about the potential dangers of these unregulated products. For another article we covered about this, click here.

Key Points:

• Researchers analyzed data from more than 9,500 U.S. adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to 2020.
• The study focused on six herbal supplements considered potentially hepatotoxic: ashwagandha, black cohosh, Garcinia cambogia, green tea extract, red yeast rice, and turmeric or curcumin.
• About 58% of participants reported using an herbal or dietary supplement at least once within the 30-day period.
• The prevalence of potentially hepatotoxic botanical use is similar to the estimated number of people prescribed potentially hepatotoxic drugs such as NSAIDs and simvastatin.
• Herbal supplements do not require FDA review or approval before entering the market, leading to potential mislabeling and safety concerns.
• Healthcare providers should actively inquire about patients’ use of herbal supplements and educate them on potential risks, particularly liver toxicity.
• A “food-first approach” is recommended, incorporating active ingredients like turmeric or green tea in culinary form when appropriate, rather than relying on supplements.

“As a practicing hepatologist, I have seen patients who had liver injury from taking dietary supplements and some were fatal which required emergency liver transplant.” – Alisa Likhitsup, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Michigan

More on Vitamins/Supplements