MedMinute: Kava Use Linked to Potential Liver Damage
Following reports of liver-related injuries associated with dietary supplements containing kava, the FDA is warning consumers of the potential risk
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about the potential risk of using dietary supplements containing the herbal ingredient, kava. The kava plant is heavily promoted to relieve stress, anxiety, tension, sleeplessness and menopausal symptoms. David Kroll is a pharmacologist at the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine:
"It turns out that kava, or some contaminant present in kava supplements, can cause liver damage in people who are either chronic consumers of alcohol or who are on other prescription drugs that have the potential for causing damage to the liver, like some of the cholesterol-lowering drugs."
Liver problems such as hepatitis and cirrhosis have already led to kava bans in several European countries. Kroll says anyone considering using a dietary supplement containing kava should consult with their physician beforehand.
"So until the situation is fleshed out by the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory authorities, people are best steered away from supplements like kava if they're taking any of these other drugs."
I'm Cabell Smith for MedMinute.