Green Tea Extract Lawsuit

Dietary supplements containing green tea extract are supposed to be good for you. Unfortunately, a growing number of studies suggest that high doses of EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) can have toxic side effects, including liver damage.

What You Can Do & How a Green Tea Extract Lawsuit Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting green tea extract (EGCG) induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Dietary Supplement Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: Saba ACE Diet Pills Linked to Liver Failure and Transplant

August 5, 2014 — The journal Gastroenterology has published a case report of a 35 year-old woman who developed liver failure and needed a transplant after taking Saba Appetite Control and Energy (ACE), a weight-loss supplement that contains DMAA and Green Tea Extract. Click here to read more.

July 25, 2014 — The Journal of Ethnopharmacology has published a case report of a 63 year-old woman who developed severe, sudden liver inflammation (acute hepatitis) after taking a dietary supplement with high doses of green tea extract. Click here to read more.

Overview

Green tea is obtained from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It has been used as a beverage for centuries in Asia, and it is growing in popularity in the United States for its antioxidant and anticarcinogenic effects. In normal doses, it is generally accepted as safe and even beneficial. However, high doses of green tea extract are associated with liver damage.

What is the problem?

Many people do not realize that green tea contains ingredients that may be toxic at high doses or high-concentration extracts, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a catechin that is extracted from the green tea plant and commonly added to dietary supplements in high doses. Studies in animals have shown that green tea extract can have toxic effects in the liver, intestines, kidneys, and bone marrow.

Study Links Green Tea Extract and Liver Damage

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (2009) — Between 1999 and October 2008, researchers identified 34 cases of hepatitis (liver inflammation), suggesting an association between some green tea weight-loss supplements and liver damage.

In November 2012, NutraIngredients reported that Monster Energy Drinks was hit with a lawsuit alleging that the company failed to warn about the health risks of green tea extract, an ingredient in some of their products.

Liver Injuries Linked to Diet Pills with Green Tea Extract

Some supplements containing green tea extract have also been linked to outbreaks of liver damage, including:

SlimQuick: The diet pill SlimQuick was also linked to a case of hepatotoxicity in a 23-year-old woman in this study published in 2012.
Exolise: In 2003, Spanish and French health authorities banned green tea extract after the diet pill Exolise was linked to an outbreak of liver damage.
Hydroxycut: Pulled off the market in 2009 after it was linked to 23 liver injuries, including one death.

Symptoms of Liver Injury

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes)
Brown urine
Nausea, vomiting
Light-colored stools
Excessive fatigue
Weakness
Stomach or abdominal pain
Itching
Loss of appetite

Do I have a Green Tea Extract Lawsuit?

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