The Hidden Dangers of Turmeric Supplements: A Case of Severe Liver Damage
A 57-year-old woman from New Jersey was hospitalized for six days due to severe liver damage after consuming high-dose turmeric supplements. This alarming incident underscores a growing trend of liver injuries associated with turmeric supplements, leading to warnings from medical professionals.
The woman, named Katie Mohan, began taking 2,250 mg of turmeric supplements daily for inflammation relief, as suggested by social media recommendations. Shortly after, she started experiencing stomach pain, nausea, fatigue, and dark urine. Blood tests later revealed that her liver enzyme levels were 60 times higher than the normal range, putting her on the brink of liver failure.
According to Dr. Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos of NYU Langone Health, Katie was “one step before full liver damage, liver failure, requiring liver transplant.”
Recent research indicates that turmeric is now one of the most common herbal ingredients linked to toxic hepatitis in the U.S. From 1995 to 2020, the number of liver failures requiring transplants due to supplement-related issues increased eightfold. The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of only 200 mg of turmeric for a 150-pound person, a dosage far below what many commercial supplements offer.
“Natural does not mean safe,” warns Dr. Dina Halegoua-De Marzio of Jefferson Health. A large number of turmeric supplements contain black pepper extract, which can increase absorption twentyfold, potentially leading to toxic levels.
Source: NBC News