Association between use of Herbalife dietary supplements and acute hepatotoxicity

Association between use of Herbalife dietary supplements and acute hepatotoxicity.

Elinav E, Pinsker G, Safadi R, Pappo O, Bromberg M, Anis E, Keinan-Boker L, Broide E, Ackerman Z, Kaluski DN, Lev B, Shouval D.

Source

Liver Unit, Hadassah-Hebrew College Clinic, Ein-Kerem, P.O. Box 12000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Dietary supplements are often regarded as harmless but indiscriminate utilization of unlabelled elements can lead to significant adverse responses.

Techniques:

In 2004, identification of 4 index cases of acute hepatitis connected with Herbalife intake brought to some secretary of state for health analysis in most Israeli hospitals. Twelve patients with acute idiopathic liver injury in colaboration with use of Herbalife items were looked into.

RESULTS:

Eleven of the sufferers were women, aged 49.5 /-13.4 y. One patient had stage I primary biliary cirrhosis and the other had hepatitis B. Acute liver injury was identified after 11.9 /-11.1 several weeks of initiation of Herbalife consumption. Liver biopsies shown active hepatitis, portal inflammation wealthy with eosinophils, ductular reaction and parenchymal inflammation with peri-central accentuation. One patient developed sub-fulminant and 2 fulminant instances of hepatic failure. Hepatitis resolved in eleven patients, while one patient gave in to complications following liver transplantation. Three patients started again use of Herbalife items following normalization of liver enzymes, producing a second bout of hepatitis.

CONCLUSIONS:

A connection between intake of Herbalife items and acute hepatitis was recognized in Israel. We demand prospective evaluation of Herbalife items for possible hepatotoxicity. For now, caution ought to be worked out by customers, especially among people struggling with underlying liver disease.