Acute liver failure induced by green tea extracts: Case report and review of the literature

TLDR

Over‑the‑counter dietary supplements, especially green‑tea extract marketed for weight loss and cancer prevention, are widely used despite limited safety testing and growing evidence of serious side effects such as liver toxicity. The authors emphasize the need to obtain a detailed dietary supplement history when assessing patients with acute liver dysfunction. Their case report adds to the literature documenting acute liver injury associated with green‑tea extract supplements. © 2006 AASLD; Liver Transplant 12:1892–1895.

Abstract

In industrialized countries, over-the-counter dietary supplements have become popular in preventing and treating an expanding list of medical conditions. Although most commercially available supplements have not been rigorously tested for safety and efficacy, they have found an enlarging market because they are considered natural. Oral supplements containing green tea extract have been marketed as effective for weight loss and to prevent and cure some solid tumors. Although there is little scientific evidence of the effectiveness of green tea extracts to improve the quality of health of regular consumers, there is an increasing body of medical literature supporting the hypothesis that they can cause serious side effects. Our experience adds to previous reports of acute liver toxicity observed in individuals consuming supplements containing green tea extract. We highlight the importance of obtaining a detailed history of dietary supplement consumption when evaluating a patient presenting with acute liver dysfunction. Liver Transpl 12:1892–1895, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.