This paper looked at all the published reports of people who developed liver problems from taking herbs or herbal supplements. The researchers found 936 cases of liver injury linked to 79 different herbs or herbal products. Some of the most common ones were He-Shou-Wu, green tea extract, Herbalife, kava, kratom, and greater celandine. Most people recovered after stopping the herb, but some had serious problems like needing a liver transplant or even death.
The review shows that while herbs and supplements are often seen as safe, they can actually cause real harm to the liver in some people. Doctors and patients need to be aware of this risk, especially when using products like kratom that are not very well studied. Paying attention to any signs of liver problems, like yellowing of the skin or abdominal pain, is important if taking herbs or supplements.
This study was a systematic review, which means the researchers searched the published literature to find all relevant studies on this topic. It did not involve any new experiments or testing on animals or humans.
Key takeaways:
- 79 different herbs and herbal supplements were found to cause liver injury.
- Common culprits included He-Shou-Wu, green tea, kava kava, and kratom.
- Most patients recovered after stopping the herb, but 6.6% needed a liver transplant.
- 10.4% of cases resulted in death.
- Doctors and patients need to be aware of the liver risks of herbs and supplements.
- Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of herb-induced liver injury.
For further reading:
Link: Herb-induced liver injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Full Citation:
Ballotin VR, Bigarella LG, Brando ABM, Balbinot RA, Balbinot SS, Soldera J. Herbinduced liver injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Clin Cases 2021; 9(20): 5490-
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