Other Supplement Warnings
Ephedra was not the first supplement to be considered dangerous. In 2002 the FDA warned consumers about the use of dietary supplements that include the herbal ingredient Kava. Used as a natural remedy for stress, anxiety and premenstrual syndrome, Kava can cause liver failure among other adverse effects.
The previous year, the FDA told consumers to immediately stop using LipoKinetix, a weight loss supplement, and urged distributor Syntrax Innovations, Inc to remove it from the market. Numerous people reportedly suffered liver injury within as little as two weeks of using the product.
The FDA is still studying the risks of usnic acid, consumed in an effort to burn fat. While you could lose weight by using this supplement, you could also risk losing your liver.
A few of the many other supplements named as the cause of liver damage include:
Chaparral - Used as a natural antioxidant
Bitter Orange - Used for weight loss
Comfrey - Used to treat wounds and reduce inflammation in sprains and broken bones
Germander - Used for weight loss
Niacin - Used to lower cholesterol
Black Cohosh - Used for muscle pain and menopausal symptoms
Vitamin A is also known to cause severe liver damage when the dosage is too high or when taken at high dosages for an extended period of time. In fact, Metabolife had to recall its diet and energy bars in 2001 because they contained Vitamin A at a level much higher than was labeled. The high amounts were said to be caused by an error of a contract manufacturer.
That recall was minor compared to what Metabolife, once a top seller in the diet supplement industry, found itself facing with regards to products containing Ephedra. After hundreds of personal injury lawsuits were filed by consumers using these Metabolife products, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2005. Metabolife is now back with new products and a re-branding campaign.