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Toxic hepatitis due to a food supplement: "Natural" is no synonym for "harmless"
Filip J Couturier1, Luc J Colemont2, Herbert Fierens2
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sint-Vincentius Hospital, Sint-Vincentiusstraat 20, 2018 Antwerpen, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
Background/Aims:
Herbal products are increasingly used in modern medicine for numerous indications. They are not considered as drugs and thus often not linked to side effects.
Material:
A 77-year-old patient presented with silent icterus and biochemical evidence of hepatocellular damage. Because of dyslipidaemia, he was recently prescribed Controchol(®), a food supplement containing red yeast and green tea extracts.
Results:
Liver biopsy showed necro-inflammatory destruction of liver parenchym, collapse of reticulin matrix, cholestasis and gall duct damage, compatible with toxic hepatitis. After discontinuation of Controchol(®), there was a gradual normalisation of the liver function tests. Liver injury is a known side effect of both red yeast and green tea extracts. After exclusion of other causes, we therefore concluded our patient had suffered from Controchol(®)-induced toxic hepatitis.
Conclusion:
Products that are conceived as "natural" alternatives for pharmacological drugs, like food supplements, are not free of side effects per se, and should not be considered as "harmless".
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