A hospital doctor has sounded the alarm about potentially dangerous supplements that could lead to serious health problems, particularly liver damage.
The warning comes as the supplement market continues to expand rapidly, with many products making bold health claims that Christine Nwoha, MD, say lack proper evidence.
The physician, speaking from years of clinical experience, stressed that people need to exercise extreme caution with supplements.
"As a doctor, the one thing I know is to be careful with supplements. Supplements can be really, really dangerous," she cautioned viewers on TikTok.
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The physician warned that supplements are not always safe
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Dr Nwoha warned that the industry operates with minimal oversight, allowing products to reach consumers without the rigorous testing required for conventional medicines.
She shared a particularly frightening case that occurred several years ago, involving a woman in her middle years who arrived at the hospital with skin that had turned yellow.
Despite being healthy and avoiding alcohol, she was experiencing severe liver problems.
"She was yellow as a highlighter," the physician recalled, noting that the patient had been following advice from a naturopath based in India, someone she'd never actually met in person.
Under this remote guidance, she'd been consuming substantial quantities of turmeric as part of a weight loss programme.
Her condition deteriorated so severely that medical staff feared she might require a liver transplant.
"I literally sat on a patient's bed, and found myself worried over some turmeric," Dr Nwoha remembered.
She identified several additional supplements that pose particular risks, including Ashwagandha, which, despite its popularity and positive reputation, has been connected to cases of liver damage.
"Ashwagandha, you hear a lot of great things about, but it can be implicated with liver failure," the doctor warned.
Green tea extract raised similar concerns, with the physician preferring people simply drink regular green tea instead. "I'm scared of extract," she admitted.
Garcinia cambogia, commonly marketed for shedding pounds, can also harm the liver. But perhaps most worrying is kratom, which carries addiction risks.
"Kratom, you can get addicted to. The withdrawal symptoms are real. This can also lead to a mixed liver failure," Dr Nwoha explained.
Her list also included anabolic steroids and turmeric, both of which can cause serious liver problems.
While many people recover from various supplement-related symptoms, liver damage presents a much more serious challenge.
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The physician urges everyone to do their research before taking supplements
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"What you might have trouble bouncing back from is liver failure," the physician explained.
As the supplement market continues its rapid growth, the doctor urged consumers to stay vigilant about emerging risks.
Thorough research is essential before taking any supplement, no matter how harmless it might seem.
"Here is the thing. If this supplement industry continues to grow, we have to keep our eyes on some of the things that are creeping up. But do your research and know that you shouldn't take any of this lightly," Dr Nwoha concluded
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