Hundreds of green tea supplements claim to have health benefits, with “all-natural” ingredients. Unfortunately, many contain unnaturally high levels of green tea extract (EGCG), which may increase your risk of liver problems, including hepatitis (liver inflammation) and liver failure.
What You Can Do & How a Green Tea Liver Damage Lawsuit Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting green tea induced liver damage 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.
Overview
Green tea is a beverage that has been enjoyed for centuries and is widely believed to have health benefits. It is derived from the leaves of the Chinese tea tree, Camellia sinensis. Black tea is derived from the same plant but is fermented.
What is the problem?
Drinking green tea is not associated with liver damage. However, over 100 dietary supplements contain green tea extract, an ingredient that is associated with liver damage. Many products contain epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a toxic flavonoid of green tea.
Green Tea Liver Damage Information
According to the green tea liver damage information provided by the National Institute of Health (NIH), humans can tolerate 9.9 grams of green tea extract (equivalent to 24 cups of tea) before they are at risk of side effects like headache, nausea, and dizziness.
The problem is that many supplements contain significantly higher levels of green tea extract. For example, after the green tea supplement SlimQuick was linked to severe liver failure in a 23 year-old woman, researchers found contained 135-mg of EGCG.
According to the NIH:
“Liver injury typically arises within 3 months, with latency to onset of symptoms ranging from 10 days to 7 months. The majority of cases present with an acute hepatitis-like syndrome and a markedly hepatocellular pattern of serum enzyme elevations. Most patients recover rapidly upon stopping the extract or HDS, although fatal instances of acute liver failure have been described. Biopsy findings show necrosis, inflammation, and eosinophils in a pattern resembling acute hepatitis.”
How Does Green Tea Damage the Liver?
The liver is the largest organ in the body. Over 75% of its mass consists of hepatocytes, which are responsible for metabolizing foreign substances into products that can be excreted or used by the body. When the liver processes a toxic drug, hepatocytes may be damaged or destroyed. This can lead to inflammation (hepatitis). Liver failure occurs when more hepatocytes are destroyed than the liver can regenerate.
Green Tea Diet Pills and Liver Damage
One of the first regulatory actions involving green tea was in 2003, when French and Spanish health authorities banned green tea extract following an outbreak of liver damage linked to the weight-loss supplement Exolise. In 2009, American health authorities banned Hydroxycut, another weight-loss supplement containing green tea extract, after 23 people developed liver damage. The supplement SlimQuick was also linked to one case of severe liver damage in 2012.
Symptoms of Liver Damage
- 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 Liver Damage Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting green tea induced liver damage 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.
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