Common Herbal Remedies That Threaten Liver Health

A new survey from the University of Michigan estimates that as many as 18.6 million people in the United States use at least one herbal remedy that may harm the liver.

When used in moderation, herbal remedies, such as green tea, and other plant-based supplements can provide us with health benefits, but in concentrated forms, such as capsules, it is easy to overdose on them.

The use of nutritional supplements and herbal remedies has increased dramatically around the world because of their tangible health benefits, and they can be purchased without a prescription.

Hospitalizations due to liver problems caused by herbal remedies are reportedly on the rise in the United States and around the world.

“The safety and efficacy of herbal and dietary supplements are not well established due to the lack of regulatory requirements by the US Food and Drug Administration for prospective human or clinical drug trials prior to marketing,” hepatologist Alyssa Lekhitsub and colleagues cautioned in their paper.

Using data from 9,685 people enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the researchers found that six of the most commonly consumed herbal products, which are commonly used to treat conditions such as high cholesterol, depression and pain, are often implicated in liver injury.

Rates of drug-induced liver injury from these supplements have nearly tripled in about 20 years, from 7% in 2004 to 20% by 2014.

“The plant products most implicated in severe and potentially fatal liver injury include turmeric, catmint, green tea extract, and garcinia gum,” Likhitsub and her team explain.

Liver disease can be difficult to diagnose until the disease is severe. Symptoms include fatigue, decreased appetite, and weight loss.

The damage prevents the liver from processing bilirubin properly, leading to a buildup that appears as a yellow color in the skin.

The researchers found that herbal supplement use was more common in people with chronic medical conditions, including arthritis and diabetes. These people also tended to be older and have higher levels of education and income than those who did not use these supplements.

“Turmeric-containing products have been commonly used for joint health or arthritis because of the widespread belief that turmeric may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,” Lekhitsub wrote. “However, several randomized clinical trials have failed to demonstrate any efficacy of turmeric-containing products in osteoarthritis.”

The same goes for other supplements, such as garcinia gum and green tea extract. 

Furthermore, a 2019 study by spectroscopy revealed that what is advertised on the labels of these herbal supplements does not always match their actual contents.

In general, it is best to get adequate amounts of nutrients through a healthy diet, and to use supplements only when recommended as a treatment for a diagnosed deficiency.

However, if you decide to try herbal supplements, it is essential to inform your doctor so that he or she knows how to help if anything goes wrong.

The results of this research paper were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.