These 6 Food Supplements Might Be Damaging Your Liver
These 6 Food Supplements Might Be Damaging Your Liver
2022 study in the journal Liver Transplantation revealed that cases of drug-induced acute liver failure linked to herbal and dietary supplements have surged eightfold from 1995 to 2020.
The supplement industry is experiencing significant growth, but it also brings along serious health concerns associated with the use of these pills and powders. Here’s what experts advise you to be cautious about.
The growing popularity of dietary supplements has raised concerns regarding the accuracy of their ingredients and the risk of liver damage. Studies indicate a notable problem with mislabeling and contamination of these products. It is recommended that consumers seek advice from healthcare professionals and follow the suggested daily upper limits to ensure their safety.
You can easily find over-the-counter supplements like multivitamins, calcium, and fish oil at local stores. According to the 2017–18 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 58% of adults in the U.S. use dietary supplements, with 64% of women and 51% of men participating. A 2024 survey indicates that this number has risen to 75% of adults taking supplements.
A 2022 study in the journal Liver Transplantation revealed that cases of drug-induced acute liver failure linked to herbal and dietary supplements have surged eightfold from 1995 to 2020.
Researchers from the University of Michigan highlighted last year that 15.6 million Americans use products that include at least one of the following six botanicals associated with liver damage:
- Turmeric
- Green tea
- Ashwagandha
- Garcinia cambogia
- Red yeast rice
- Black cohosh
“In a previous study, we found that there was a great deal of mislabeling of some of these products. We performed analytical chemistry and found about a 50% mismatch between the stated ingredients on the label and what they actually contained, which is quite alarming. If you buy a supplement and it says it has a certain ingredient, it’s basically a coin flip if that’s true or not,” the research stated.
Numerous studies have indicated the presence of toxic heavy metal contamination in certain supplements. While the FDA oversees the regulation of these products, it does not assess their safety, quality, or effectiveness before market release. Instead, supplements are classified as food rather than drugs, placing the responsibility on manufacturers to accurately label their offerings.
To ensure your safety, it’s crucial to discuss the supplements you are using with your healthcare providers. Avoid succumbing to the allure of ‘megadosing’ for quick outcomes. The Office of Dietary Supplements, under the National Institutes of Health, has set daily upper limits (ULs) for safe intake. For example, adults should not exceed 100 micrograms of vitamin D per day.
