By Chico Mies The confrontation between Leonidas and Xerxes in 300 and the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State share striking thematic similarities, particularly in the struggle between power and resistance. Leonidas’ quote: “The world will know that a free man stood against a tyrant. That few stood against many. And before this battle was over, even a god-king can bleed.” resonates deeply with the current standoff in Rivers State, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara finds himself at odds with the federal authority following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency. The Tyrant vs. The Free Man In 300, Xerxes presents himself as an all-powerful ruler, demanding submission from Leonidas and the Spartans. Similarly, Tinubu’s imposition of emergency rule can be interpreted as an assertion of supreme federal power over Rivers State, challenging its autonomy. Fubara, like Leonidas, stands as a figure of defiance, resisting what he and his supporters perceive ...
By Chico Mies.
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Certain herbal supplements may be harmful to the liver's health. |
- Herbs have been utilised for thousands of years in medicine.
- Recently, there has been a surge in the popularity of herbal supplements, partly because of the social networking site TikTok
- An estimated 15.6 million American adults, or 5% of the population, have taken at least one herbal supplement that may be harmful to their liver in the past 30 days, according to University of Michigan researchers.
- The supplements ashwagandha, turmeric, curcumin, and green tea extract have all been examined.
Although people have been using plants and herbs for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, these days they are highly popular due in part to posts on social media sites like TikTokTrusted Source, where users highlight the advantages of consuming herbal supplements like green tea, ashwagandha, and turmeric.
Although herbal supplements might be regarded as "natural," they are not intrinsically safe and don't need FDATrusted Source clearance before being sold. Herbal supplements can also have negative effects on users, and some herbs can conflict with prescription drugs they already take.
This study was recently published by JAMA Network Open Journal
Six potentially hepatotoxic plant compounds are being studied
Researchers examined information from over 9,500 American individuals, with an average age of 47.5, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)Trusted Source from 2017 to 2020 in order to conduct this study. The usage of herbal supplements and prescription drugs was included in the medical data for these individuals.
Researchers concentrated on examining study participants' use of six herbal supplements that were previously thought to be possibly hepatotoxic. Reliable Source:
- Black cohosh
- ashwagandha
- Garcinia Cambogia
- Yeast rice
- Green tea extract
- Turmeric, or curcumin
Lead author of this study Alisa Likhitsup, MD, MPH, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Michigan, told Medical News Today that "potentially hepatotoxic botanical products are the products that contain plant-based ingredients which have been implicated as potential causes of liver damage."
Although the exact mechanism of liver damage caused by these products is unknown, she said that it is probably because of the liver's post-consumption metabolism.
As a hepatologist in practice, I have encountered patients who used nutritional supplements and suffered liver damage; some of these patients were deadly and needed an immediate liver transplant. According to data from the Drug Induced Liver Injury Network, the percentage of liver injuries brought on by herbal products increased from 7% in 2004–2005 to 20% in 2013–2014. Likhitsup stated, "As a result, I was interested in analysing the prevalence and determining the number of Americans purchasing these items.
15.6 million adult users of a herb that may damage the liver
At the end of the 30-day trial, Likhitsup and her colleagues discovered that almost 58% of all participants had used a nutritional supplement or herbal remedy at least once.
Five percent of individuals reported consuming at least one of the six botanicals that may be hepatotoxic within the previous thirty days. This percentage, when applied to the entire adult population in the United States, equals almost 15.6 million.
AcAccording to studies, the amount of people who are projected to be administered possibly hepatotoxic medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) and the cholesterol-lowering medication simvastatinTrusted The source is comparable to the use of potentially hepatotoxic botanicals.
"We anticipate that our findings will raise awareness among patients and healthcare professionals regarding the regular consumption of these potentially liver-toxic ingredients by Americans and the lax regulation of dietary supplement products on the market," Likhitsup stated.
“It will be challenging for doctors to give us information that we do not now have concerning the dangers of liver damage from taking one of these items. Furthermore, due to lax regulations, many of the nutritional supplement items on the market have more than 50% of their components incorrectly labelled. Thus, conducting research on this subject is challenging”. — Doctor Alisa Likhitsup, MPH
"Natural" does not imply safety
Following review of this study, Rosario Ligresti, MD, FASGE, chief of gastroenterology at Hackensack University Medical Centre in New Jersey, informed MNT that although hepatotoxic botanical products are made from plants or plant derivatives, consumers should be aware that they may be doing more harm to their bodies than good if they consume them due to a lack of regulatory oversight over their manufacturing and testing.
Ligresti went on, "Because they are completely unregulated [before going on sale], I don't find it surprising that they can present serious health risks, especially for the liver, which is supposed to be affected in some way by their inability to process and detoxify harmful substances." "Toxin accumulation in the liver due to this may result in inflammation, apoptosis, and in extreme situations, liver failure."
According to Ligresti, every doctor ought to discuss the dangers of these kinds of products with their patients and find out whether they are using any of them.
"People have a false sense of security since supplements are purportedly made of natural components; they might think that because the ingredients are 'natural,' they must be safe. But it's crucial to keep in mind that safe does not always equate to natural. Certain natural substances may interact with pharmaceuticals or be harmful in excessive concentrations”. — Physician Rosario Ligresti, FASGE
Patients need to be informed of this as well as the fact that there are less regulations governing the supplement business than there are for the pharmaceutical sector. This implies that businesses are exempt from having to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of their goods before selling them. This may result in customers buying unproven items or ones that might contain dangerous substances," he continued.
Things to think about prior to taking herbal supplements
MNT also discussed this study with Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, owner of Nutrition-In-Sight and registered dietitian nutritionist.
Richard stated, "The study's findings are alarming and validate what I frequently see in practice, on social media, and in the healthcare industry." Unfortunately, there are many items on the market that claim to "cure," "solve an ill," or "enhance a stated outcome," but in most cases, they are not that easy to use. This is due to a variety of factors, including influencers, deceptive marketing, scare tactics, and everything in between.
The FDA does monitor supplements, she said, but only in relation to the possible risk of supplement ingredients on the market. This is far different from having a product examined and "approved by the FDA" for quality, efficacy, safety, and benefit.
Supplement goods that are tainted, contaminated, out-of-date, and occasionally even hazardous are widely available on the market. People frequently self-diagnose or read inaccurate or misleading material, and they might not know what they are buying, how it might directly influence them, or what the potential side effects or concerns could be. — MS, RDN, LDN Monique Richard
Richard advised readers who are thinking about taking a herbal supelement to first consult with their healthcare team, which should include their doctor, chemist, registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), or other qualified herbalist or botanist practitioner, to truly understand which botanicals might be most appropriate for their goals and current state of health.
In addition, she suggested adopting a “food-first approach” rather than using herbal supplements, such as incorporating flavourful components like green tea or turmeric into dishes based on the individual's objectives and needs.
Richard advised customers to consult a reputable nutritionist or healthcare provider before purchasing a bottle that may be covertly harming their liver, money, or overall health.
Researchers examined information from over 9,500 American individuals, with an average age of 47.5, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)Trusted Source from 2017 to 2020 in order to conduct this study. The usage of herbal supplements and prescription drugs was included in the medical data for these individuals.
Researchers concentrated on examining study participants' use of six herbal supplements that were previously thought to be possibly hepatotoxic. Reliable Source:
- Black cohosh
- ashwagandha
- Garcinia Cambogia
- Yeast rice
- Green tea extract
- Turmeric, or curcumin
Lead author of this study Alisa Likhitsup, MD, MPH, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Michigan, told Medical News Today that "potentially hepatotoxic botanical products are the products that contain plant-based ingredients which have been implicated as potential causes of liver damage."
Although the exact mechanism of liver damage caused by these products is unknown, she said that it is probably because of the liver's post-consumption metabolism.
As a hepatologist in practice, I have encountered patients who used nutritional supplements and suffered liver damage; some of these patients were deadly and needed an immediate liver transplant. According to data from the Drug Induced Liver Injury Network, the percentage of liver injuries brought on by herbal products increased from 7% in 2004–2005 to 20% in 2013–2014. Likhitsup stated, "As a result, I was interested in analysing the prevalence and determining the number of Americans purchasing these items.
15.6 million adult users of a herb that may damage the liver
At the end of the 30-day trial, Likhitsup and her colleagues discovered that almost 58% of all participants had used a nutritional supplement or herbal remedy at least once.
Five percent of individuals reported consuming at least one of the six botanicals that may be hepatotoxic within the previous thirty days. This percentage, when applied to the entire adult population in the United States, equals almost 15.6 million.
AcAccording to studies, the amount of people who are projected to be administered possibly hepatotoxic medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) and the cholesterol-lowering medication simvastatinTrusted The source is comparable to the use of potentially hepatotoxic botanicals.
"We anticipate that our findings will raise awareness among patients and healthcare professionals regarding the regular consumption of these potentially liver-toxic ingredients by Americans and the lax regulation of dietary supplement products on the market," Likhitsup stated.
“It will be challenging for doctors to give us information that we do not now have concerning the dangers of liver damage from taking one of these items. Furthermore, due to lax regulations, many of the nutritional supplement items on the market have more than 50% of their components incorrectly labelled. Thus, conducting research on this subject is challenging”. — Doctor Alisa Likhitsup, MPH
"Natural" does not imply safety
Following review of this study, Rosario Ligresti, MD, FASGE, chief of gastroenterology at Hackensack University Medical Centre in New Jersey, informed MNT that although hepatotoxic botanical products are made from plants or plant derivatives, consumers should be aware that they may be doing more harm to their bodies than good if they consume them due to a lack of regulatory oversight over their manufacturing and testing.
Ligresti went on, "Because they are completely unregulated [before going on sale], I don't find it surprising that they can present serious health risks, especially for the liver, which is supposed to be affected in some way by their inability to process and detoxify harmful substances." "Toxin accumulation in the liver due to this may result in inflammation, apoptosis, and in extreme situations, liver failure."
According to Ligresti, every doctor ought to discuss the dangers of these kinds of products with their patients and find out whether they are using any of them.
"People have a false sense of security since supplements are purportedly made of natural components; they might think that because the ingredients are 'natural,' they must be safe. But it's crucial to keep in mind that safe does not always equate to natural. Certain natural substances may interact with pharmaceuticals or be harmful in excessive concentrations”. — Physician Rosario Ligresti, FASGE
Patients need to be informed of this as well as the fact that there are less regulations governing the supplement business than there are for the pharmaceutical sector. This implies that businesses are exempt from having to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of their goods before selling them. This may result in customers buying unproven items or ones that might contain dangerous substances," he continued.
Things to think about prior to taking herbal supplements
MNT also discussed this study with Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, owner of Nutrition-In-Sight and registered dietitian nutritionist.
Richard stated, "The study's findings are alarming and validate what I frequently see in practice, on social media, and in the healthcare industry." Unfortunately, there are many items on the market that claim to "cure," "solve an ill," or "enhance a stated outcome," but in most cases, they are not that easy to use. This is due to a variety of factors, including influencers, deceptive marketing, scare tactics, and everything in between.
The FDA does monitor supplements, she said, but only in relation to the possible risk of supplement ingredients on the market. This is far different from having a product examined and "approved by the FDA" for quality, efficacy, safety, and benefit.
Supplement goods that are tainted, contaminated, out-of-date, and occasionally even hazardous are widely available on the market. People frequently self-diagnose or read inaccurate or misleading material, and they might not know what they are buying, how it might directly influence them, or what the potential side effects or concerns could be. — MS, RDN, LDN Monique Richard
Richard advised readers who are thinking about taking a herbal supelement to first consult with their healthcare team, which should include their doctor, chemist, registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), or other qualified herbalist or botanist practitioner, to truly understand which botanicals might be most appropriate for their goals and current state of health.
In addition, she suggested adopting a “food-first approach” rather than using herbal supplements, such as incorporating flavourful components like green tea or turmeric into dishes based on the individual's objectives and needs.
Richard advised customers to consult a reputable nutritionist or healthcare provider before purchasing a bottle that may be covertly harming their liver, money, or overall health.
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