Green Tea Extract Side Effects May Include Liver Damage, Study Warns
A study published in the medical journal Hepatology in September 2016 found that green tea extract, a product contained in many weight-loss and bodybuilding supplements, was linked to a significant increased risk of severe liver damage. The research, which was carried out by a team led by Victor Navarro, M.D., at the Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, looked at about 700 cases of liver damage reported to the Drug Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN), a program funded by the National Institutes of Health. Of the roughly 700 cases, 130 were linked to dietary supplements, about half of which occurred in patients who took products containing green tea extract.
“As surprising as it may seem, manufacturers are not required to prove to the Food and Drug Administration that their products are safe, or that they’re effective for their advertised use, before they are sold,” said Chuck Bell, programs director for Consumers Union, the policy and mobilization arm of Consumer Reports. “The rising number of liver injury cases is yet more evidence that the loose regulation of supplements is putting consumers at risk.”
The researchers cautioned that the study’s conclusions likely underestimate the true extent of the problem, since DILIN only tracks severe cases of liver damage caused by drugs and supplements, and many cases are estimated to go unreported.
Liver Disease Symptoms
The liver is an abdominal organ that helps the body digest food, absorb nutrients, and eliminate toxic substances. Without it working correctly in its full capacity, your life is in danger. Signs and symptoms of liver damage include:
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Yellow discoloration of the skin (jaundice)
Is Liver Damage Reversible?
Some cases of mild to moderate liver damage can be reversed with healthy lifestyle choices, if the disease is treated in its early stages. The first step is to quit or drastically reduce the offending substance (green tea extract, alcohol, prescription medications, etc.). Talk to your doctor about other things you can do to manage, and possibly even reverse, liver disease.
Green Tea Side Effects
In addition to increasing the risk for liver disease, green tea fat burners have been linked to the following side effects:
- Headache
- Nervousness
- Sleep problems
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Irritability
- Irregular heartbeat
- Tremor
- Heartburn
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Convulsions
- Confusion
Is Your Law Firm Filing a Green Tea Class Action?
Although we are a nationally recognized class action firm, the Pharmaceutical Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP, has decided against the filing of a green tea class action suit, and is currently only filing individual claims on behalf of injured individuals and/or their family members who sustained a liver injury after taking green tea fat burner supplements. We decided on this course of action because class action suits can often be a detriment to many members, as they are often forced into a blanket “low ball settlement” and higher attorney fees. Schmidt & Clark, LLP, understands that our clients are suffering emotionally and economically due to loss of wages and/or high medical bills and we plan to maximize each client’s recovery by filing individual green tea lawsuits on their behalf.
Do I Have a Green Tea Class Action Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in green tea lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new liver disease cases in all 50 states.
Free Case Evaluation: Again, if you were diagnosed with liver disease after taking a green tea extract bodybuilding supplement, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.