Researchers from the University of Michigan found that millions of Americans consume herbal supplements that might harm their livers.
This study focused on certain popular herbs and plants, and the results are quite surprising.
The study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which took place from 2017 to 2020.
During this time, about 4.7% of adults said they took supplements with at least one of these ingredients: turmeric, green tea, ashwagandha, black cohosh, garcinia cambogia, and red yeast rice.
These findings were published in JAMA Network Open in a paper titled “Estimated Exposure to 6 Potentially Hepatotoxic Botanicals in U.S. Adults.”
The lead author, Dr. Alisa Likhitsup, said their interest began when they noticed liver damage in people using these supplements, as part of a larger study funded by the NIH.
She emphasized that it’s hard to know exactly how many people use these supplements and their reasons for doing so. However, they estimate that about 15 million American adults regularly take these products.
Earlier research had already shown that these specific botanicals could potentially harm the liver.
The researchers are particularly worried about these supplements for several reasons: they are not well-regulated by the government, doctors often don’t ask patients about their supplement use, and the labels on these products are frequently misleading.
Dr. Robert Fontana, another researcher on the study, pointed out that in a previous study, they found that about half of the supplements they tested did not contain the ingredients listed on their labels. This kind of mislabeling is very concerning because people can’t be sure of what they are actually consuming.
The lack of regulation means that these products can be sold without proper testing. As a result, many doctors don’t ask their patients if they are taking supplements or consider their potential effects.
Dr. Likhitsup mentioned that many people take these supplements without their doctors’ knowledge, which can lead to problems if the supplements interact with other medications or cause side effects.
In the study, the most commonly consumed supplement was turmeric, with 3.46% of people using it. This was followed by green tea (1.01%), ashwagandha and black cohosh (0.38%), garcinia cambogia (0.27%), and red yeast rice (0.19%). Most people took these supplements on their own, not because a doctor recommended them.
People took these supplements for various reasons. For example, 26.8% of turmeric users took it for joint health or arthritis, and 27.2% of green tea users took it to boost their energy. Many garcinia cambogia users hoped it would help them lose weight.
The researchers were also motivated by the growing popularity of herbal and dietary supplements. There are over 80,000 different supplement products available worldwide, and in the United States alone, supplement sales exceeded $150 billion in 2023. This amount is comparable to the total sales of prescription drugs.
Another study found a 70% increase in liver transplants due to supplement-related injuries from 2010 to 2020, compared to the period from 1994 to 2009.
The study published in JAMA Network Open didn’t establish a direct link between the six botanicals and liver damage. Instead, it aimed to understand how many people are taking these supplements.
Despite the lack of regulation, the researchers hope to raise awareness among doctors and patients about the uncertainties and potential risks of these supplements.
Dr. Fontana stressed that they are not trying to scare people but to make them aware that over-the-counter supplements have not been thoroughly tested for safety.
If you care about liver health, please read studies that refined fiber is link to liver cancer, and the best and worst foods for liver health.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to boost your liver naturally, and simple ways to detox your liver.
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