Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
11:36
Induction of Drug-Induced, Autoimmune Hepatitis in BALB/c Mice for the Study of Its Pathogenic Mechanisms
Published on: May 29, 2020
Conjugated linoleic acid-induced toxic hepatitis: first case report
Rui Ramos1, Joana Mascarenhas, Patrícia Duarte
1Gastroenterology Department, Covilhã University Hospital, Quinta do Alvito, 6000-251 Covilhã, Portugal. ruimmramos@gmail.com
Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|August 23, 2008
Summary
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation may cause liver damage. This case report details a patient who developed jaundice and abnormal liver enzymes after taking CLA for weight loss, with symptoms resolving after discontinuation.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Toxicology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a popular dietary supplement used for weight management.
- Hepatotoxicity is a potential adverse effect of various medications and supplements.
- Differential diagnosis of jaundice includes viral, autoimmune, metabolic, and drug-induced liver injury.
Observation:
- A 46-year-old female presented with asthenia, jaundice, and pruritus.
- No history of viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, hemochromatosis, or Wilson's disease was noted.
- The patient reported recent self-medication with CLA for body fat reduction.
Findings:
- Liver biopsy confirmed hepatotoxicity, suspected to be induced by CLA.
- Cessation of CLA ingestion led to normalization of liver enzymes.
- This represents the first reported case of CLA-induced hepatotoxicity.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider CLA as a potential cause of liver injury in patients with unexplained hepatotoxicity.
- Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms and prevalence of CLA-induced liver damage.
- Dietary supplement-induced liver injury is an important clinical consideration in patients presenting with abnormal liver function tests.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver. The...
01:28Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction
Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by infection with hepatotropic viruses, most commonly hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Despite variations in structure and transmission, all viruses mentioned infect hepatocytes and provoke immune responses that can hinder liver function. Additionally, some non-hepatotropic viruses can also lead to hepatic inflammation.Hepatitis A VirusHepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the fecal–oral route, typically by ingestion of food...
01:25Jaundice
Jaundice, or icterus, is the yellow discoloration of the skin, sclerae, and mucous membranes. It happens when plasma bilirubin levels rise above 2.5-3 mg/dL, leading to bilirubin deposition in tissue.Bilirubin is a byproduct of hemoglobin degradation. In macrophages, hemoglobin breaks down into globin and heme. Globin is converted into amino acids, while heme is turned into biliverdin by heme oxygenase, which is then reduced to unconjugated bilirubin by biliverdin reductase.Unconjugated...