1. Acute liver failure caused by 'fat burners' and dietary supplements: a case report and literature review.
- Author
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Yellapu RK, Mittal V, Grewal P, Fiel M, and Schiano T
- Subjects
- Adipose Tissue drug effects, Adipose Tissue metabolism, Adult, Benzofurans administration & dosage, Benzofurans adverse effects, Benzofurans pharmacokinetics, Camellia sinensis adverse effects, Camellia sinensis chemistry, Camellia sinensis metabolism, Commiphora adverse effects, Hepatic Encephalopathy etiology, Hepatic Encephalopathy metabolism, Hepatic Encephalopathy physiopathology, Hepatic Encephalopathy therapy, Humans, Hypolipidemic Agents administration & dosage, Hypolipidemic Agents adverse effects, Hypolipidemic Agents pharmacokinetics, Liver Transplantation, Monitoring, Physiologic, Obesity metabolism, Plant Extracts administration & dosage, Plant Extracts adverse effects, Plant Extracts pharmacokinetics, Plant Gums administration & dosage, Plant Gums adverse effects, Plant Gums pharmacokinetics, Plant Preparations administration & dosage, Plant Preparations pharmacokinetics, Tea adverse effects, Tea chemistry, Tea metabolism, Treatment Outcome, Weight Loss drug effects, Dietary Supplements adverse effects, Dietary Supplements analysis, Liver Failure, Acute chemically induced, Liver Failure, Acute complications, Liver Failure, Acute metabolism, Liver Failure, Acute physiopathology, Liver Failure, Acute surgery, Obesity drug therapy, Phytotherapy adverse effects, Plant Preparations adverse effects
- Abstract
Globally, people are struggling with obesity. Many effective, nonconventional methods of weight reduction, such as herbal and natural dietary supplements, are increasingly being sought. Fat burners are believed to raise metabolism, burn more calories and hasten fat loss. Despite patient perceptions that herbal remedies are free of adverse effects, some supplements are associated with severe hepatotoxicity. The present report describes a young healthy woman who presented with fulminant hepatic failure requiring emergent liver transplantation caused by a dietary supplement and fat burner containing usnic acid, green tea and guggul tree extracts. Thorough investigation, including histopathological examination, revealed no other cause of hepatotoxicity. The present case adds to the increasing number of reports of hepatotoxicity associated with dietary supplements containing usnic acid, and highlights that herbal extracts from green tea or guggul tree may not be free of adverse effects. Until these products are more closely regulated and their advertising better scrutinized, physicians and patients should become more familiar with herbal products that are commonly used as weight loss supplements and recognize those that are potentially harmful.
- Published
- 2011
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