16 'common' herbal supplements found to be associated with 'herb-induced liver injury'
16 'common' herbal supplements found to be associated with 'herb-induced liver injury'
The market for herbal supplements is in rude health. However, there are growing concerns related to the safety and toxicities of these medicines. "Despite popular belief that the consumption of natural products is harmless, herbs might cause injury to various organs, particularly to the liver, which is responsible for their metabolism in the form of herb-induced liver injury (HILI)," researchers wrote in a study published last year.
They sought to identify herbal products associated with HILI and describe the type of lesion associated with each product.
HILI describes an adverse reaction to herbal medicines.
Searches were run and studies were retrieved from the electronic databases Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, BIREME, LILACS, Cochrane Library for Systematic Reviews, SciELO, Embase, and Opengray.eu.
In the final analysis, 446 references were included, with a total of 936 cases reported.
The researchers found 79 types of herbs or herbal compounds related to HILI.
The "most common" supplements linked to HILI in the literature were:
- He-Shou-Wu - Green tea extract-Herbalife-Kava kava-Greater celandine-Multiple herbs-Germander
- Hydroxy cut--skullcap-Kratom-Gynura segetum-Garcinia cambogia-Ma huang-Chaparral-Senna-Aloe vera.
Fortunately, most of these patients had complete clinical recovery (83 percent).
Also, chronic liver disease and death were observed in 1.5 percent and 10.4 percent of the cases, respectively.
The researchers concluded: "HILI is normally associated with a good prognosis, once the implied product is withdrawn.
"Nevertheless, it is paramount to raise awareness in the medical and non-medical community of the risks of the indiscriminate use of herbal products."
Key caveats
It's important to note that causation was not established in the study.
The picture can also seem murky because some of the items highlighted, such as green tea extract, have been shown to help improve health and body composition.
More research is therefore needed before conclusions can be drawn.
But the picture does not look good. Several studies have concluded herbal medicines are associated with complications such as liver damage with a high incidence of mortalities and morbidities.
Several registries around the world record cases of drug-induced liver injury.
Research recently carried out in Latin America found the most common causes to be Camellia sinensis, which is the active compound of green tea, and Herbalife products, which contain a mixture of herbs (although it is not known which herb[s] can cause liver injury).
"These herbal products are perceived to be innocuous and healthy, and are often thought to be beneficial for weight loss, but that is not the case," the researchers wrote.
They can induce autoimmunity and frequently cause injury to the liver.
Interestingly, these liver injuries are not caused by ingesting a set amount of these herbal products, researchers have found. These injuries are known as idiosyncratic reactions, which are not related to the quantity of an herbal product. They are unexpected reactions to usual portions of the product. Any person with any amount may be susceptible to developing such an injury.
Reference: Daily Express: Adam Chapman -
Ask an expert: How does Broccoli reduce the risk of cancer?
Ask an expert: How does Broccoli reduce the risk of cancer?
Reference: Toni Tran, Whitney Hills, Jasmine Lee, Marcelli F. Chagas, Cintia A. Silva
People reporting the same Covid symptom after getting boosted - the 'top' sign after jab
People reporting the same Covid symptom after getting boosted - the 'top' sign after jab
ne of the most pernicious lies spread about the Covid vaccines is that they stop you getting Covid. Since Covid still spreads among the fully vaccinated, this falsehood has emboldened anti-vaxxers to claim the vaccines are ineffectual. The truth is, vaccines do not prevent you from catching Covid, but they greatly reduce the severity of its impact, which makes them invaluable. Catching Covid post-vaccination has nonetheless thrown up some interesting insights. One of the most intriguing is the symptom more likely to appear in the vaccinated than the unvaccinated.
Increasingly, people are reporting bouts of sneezing after testing positive for Covid following their booster jab.
Twitter has become a font of these anecdotes. Twitter user Illumiell wrote: "I'm glad I got my Flu and COVID booster a month ago. This is literally exactly the timing which saved my a** from possibly a really bad time AGAIN.
"So far I only had sneezing, some fatigue, and now a sore throat that has been mild and rapidly diminishing."
Another user, iamofdaniel, recently posted: "Lots of coughing and sneezing at the airport today.
"I'm glad I recently had covid plus got my updated booster and flu shots!"
Evidence bears about these claims. Daily reports on the ZOE COVID Study app, which tracks the symptoms of Covid, also revealed sneezing to be a symptom exclusively seen post-vaccination.
Curiously, ZOE researchers noticed that people who had been vaccinated and then tested positive for COVID-19 were "more likely" to report sneezing as a symptom compared with those without a jab.
"If you've been vaccinated and start sneezing a lot without an explanation, you should get a Covid test, especially if you are living or working around people who are at greater risk from the disease," they wrote.
It's also worth noting that sneezing is a key way that viruses spread.
"Try to cover all coughs and sneezes with tissue or the inside of your elbow to minimise the spread of droplets," advises the ZOE team.
They continued: "Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth until you wash your hands.
"Sneezing a lot could be a potential sign that someone vaccinated has COVID-19 and, however mild, should take a test and self-isolate to protect their friends, family and colleagues."
What other Covid symptoms are common post-vaccination?
Here is the current ranking of COVID symptoms after two vaccinations:
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Blocked nose
- Persistent cough
- Headache.
Generally, similar symptoms of COVID-19 are being reported overall in the ZOE app by people who had and hadn't been vaccinated.
However, fewer symptoms were reported over a shorter period of time by those who had already had a jab, suggesting that they were falling less seriously ill and getting better more quickly.
The previous "traditional" symptoms as still outlined on the Government website, such as anosmia (loss of smell), shortness of breath and fever rank way down the list.
A persistent cough now ranks at number five if you've had two vaccine doses, so is no longer the top indicator of having Covid.
It's perfectly natural for symptoms to change over the course of a pandemic.
As with all viruses, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes COVID-19 is rapidly evolving both its ability to spread and infect people, as well as the symptoms it causes.
There are a few reasons why symptoms may be changing, including the fact that those who have been vaccinated experience less severe symptoms, as well as more cases being reported by younger people, who we have found experience different, less severe symptoms as well.
Reference: Daily Express: Adam Chapman
Can you eat acorn squash peel? Find out what the experts say
Can you eat acorn squash peel? Find out what the experts say
Expert opinion from Roseane M Silva
Master in Health Sciences, Bachelor in Nutrition · 7 years of experience · Brazil
Pumpkin peel is rich in fiber, vitamin C and carotenoids, it can be consumed in different ways, such as: sweet, cake, snack, salad, pie, bread.
Expert opinion from Livia Dickson Chen
PhD in Nutrition · 11 years of experience · Brazil
The acorn squash peel is incredibly nutritious, in addition to the fibers that help in intestinal health, it contains valuable antioxidant substances for health. Acorn squash peel contains percentages of nutrients equivalent to those of the pulp and can be used in the preparation of meals.
Expert opinion from Leticia Soares
Postgraduate Degree in Public and Family Health/Bachelor Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics · 5 years of experience · Brazil
Acorn squash peel is edible, and it can be consumed since it gets tasty and soft once it is roasted. The nutritional composition of the acorn squash peel is similar to de pulp, but the peel has a higher fiber and protein content.
Reference: Roseane M Silva, Livia Dickson Chen, Leticia Soares - 8 Nov
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