Courtney Shapiro

Herbal dietary supplements have been used for years and are having even more of a moment now, thanks to social media. Many people are excited to share the benefits of natural remedies, but natural doesn’t always mean safe. In fact, a new study in the journal Jama Network Open revealed that there are at least six different herbal supplements that cause liver damage. Keep reading to see the list of supplements that cause liver damage, plus how to protect your liver.

A new study from researchers at the University of Michigan revealed that six different herbal supplements are potentially hepatoxic, or can cause liver damage. The supplements include: Turmeric and curcumin

Green tea extract

Garcinia cambogia (a tropical fruit and popular weight loss supplement)

Black cohosh

Red yeast rice

Ashwagandha

These all contain plant-based ingredients and are labeled as botanical products or herbal supplements. “While they’re popular for supposed health benefits, they can lead to serious liver issues, especially if taken in high doses or for long periods,” explains Raj Dasgupta, MD, ABIM , a quadruple board-certified physician and medical reviewer for NCOA.According to the study, an estimated 15.6 million American adults have taken at least one herbal supplement that may be damaging to their liver in the past 30 days. The amount of people who use hepatoxic botanical products is similar to the number who use prescribed hepatoxic drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Supplements are popular and often recommended for various health needs. While you don’t need to completely swear off herbal products, it’s smart to take precautions if you have or are prone to liver problems.“There’s a belief that the health benefits of these supplements outweigh the risks," says Dr. Dasgupta. "However, the potential for liver damage is real. It’s important to consider these risks carefully." Natural doesn’t always mean safe Woman reading supplement label that may cause liver damage “Over 80,000 herbal dietary supplements (HDS) products can be purchased without a prescription at various unregulated retail outlets or via the internet,” note study authors in the report. The U.S. Food […]

List of supplements that cause liver damage