Why popular herbal supplements might be toxic for your liver

Independent

a day ago

A growing number of liver damage and toxicity cases are linked to commonly used herbal and dietary supplements, and there has been a significant increase in people with supplement-related liver failure requiring transplants.
Studies indicate that up to 20% of liver toxicity cases are connected to supplements, potentially leading to impaired liver function, liver failure, and, in severe cases, death, with over 50,000 liver disease-related deaths occurring annually.
Common supplements like turmeric, black cohosh, red yeast rice, Garcinia cambogia, and green tea extract have been identified as potentially harmful, especially in high doses, and may not be accurately labeled.
Experts highlight that supplements are not subject to the same rigorous testing as prescription drugs, leading to potential risks, and that many patients do not inform their doctors about their supplement use, increasing the danger.
Symptoms of liver damage from supplements include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, and jaundice; with researchers advocating for increased awareness and caution in supplement use to prevent future deaths.