Green Tea & Liver Toxicity

Green Tea & Liver Toxicity


Green tea extract is an extremely popular supplement that people take to promote weight loss. The active ingredients in green tea include caffeine and epigallocatechin. Green tea extract appears to have few side effects other than elevated heart rate and small increases in blood pressure, but research indicates that green tea extract can be toxic to the liver and has no long-term effects on body composition.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a polyphenol found in green tea extract. A study on mice from China and Rutgers University found that EGCG was toxic to the liver by reducing important antioxidants that protect it from free radical damage. Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals linked to cell membrane damage, destruction of DNA and cell death.

A study led by Herbert Bonkovsky from Wake Forest University School of Medicine reported that EGCG is toxic to the liver when taken in high doses. Researchers reported that at least 20 cases of liver injury have stemmed from green tea extract supplements. They stated, however, that these findings do not apply to consumption of green tea because the EGCG levels do not approach those found in green tea extract supplements. We are in the dark about the dangers of herbal products such as green tea extract. While people from China have consumed green tea for centuries, it is only recently that we have been able to concentrate key ingredients in herbal products.

Another study linked the consumption of green tea extract to liver cancer. Catechins are antioxidants found in foods such as green tea that buffer the effects of free radicals produced naturally during metabolism. Free radicals are highly reactive and have been linked to DNA damage, inflammation and cell membrane destruction. Lesley Butler from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and colleagues, in a study of more than 18,000 men, found that high levels of catechins were linked to markers of liver cancer in people who were prone toward the disease. Blood catechins increase in direct proportion to their consumption in the diet. Taking high doses of green tea extract could be deadly in high-risk people. The researchers noted that the incidence of liver cancer was much higher in China than in the United States. Green tea is a staple of the Chinese diet.

High intake of green tea and green tea extract might be toxic to the liver. In one of the first case reports of hepatitis being associated with the consumption of brewable green tea, a healthy 16-year-old girl in England developed acute hepatitis after drinking three cups per day of Chinese brewable green tea, purchased online, for three months. After the consumption of green tea was stopped, there was a rapid and sustained recovery from hepatitis.

Other research found that green tea has no long-term effects on body composition. A 12-week study in 60 young adult men and women showed that it had no effect on fat absorption, resting energy expenditure and body composition. By itself, EGCG is not effective for increasing weight loss.

New reports are emerging that describe mechanisms or conditions involved in possible liver damage, as well as continuing cases of “drug-induced liver injury” occurring in people using EGCG-containing products. There are many reports supporting the idea that consumption of a great amount of GTE can induce hepatocellular toxicity (liver damage), and that certain common drugs and supplements may exacerbate this.

The limited benefit of green tea extracts for weight loss does not appear to be worth the risk. Therefore, green tea extract containing concentrated EGCG is not recommended because of possible liver toxicity.






References:

Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 283: 65-74, 2015.

NeutraingredientsUSA.com, May 12, 2015.

The Journal of Nutrition, published online March 4, 2015.

American Journal of Epidemiology, 181: 397-405, 2015.

Phung OJ, Baker WL, et al. Effect of green tea catechins with or without caffeine on anthropometric measures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 2010;91:73-81.

Sun K, Wu S, et al. High-dose sodium selenite toxicity cannot be prevented by the co-administration of pharmacological levels of epigallocatechin-3-gallate, which in turn aggravates the toxicity. Food Chem Toxicol 2013;52:36-41.

Teschke R, Eickhoff A. Herbal hepatotoxicity in traditional and modern medicine: actual key issues and new encouraging steps. Front Pharmacol 2015 Apr 23;6:72(40 pp). doi: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00072.

BMJ Case Reports 2015; doi:10.1136/bcr-2014-208534.

i actually know someone that went into complete liver failure from green tea supps and tea. young service member buddy of mine. i am pretty sure i put his story up here somewhere

WOW! I never knew this. I take a green tea extract cap from time to time. I do not take them daily but it is good to know

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Originally Posted by jipped genes

WOW! I never knew this. I take a green tea extract cap from time to time. I do not take them daily but it is good to know

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the kid i know that killed his liver was taking both the extract and drinking it as tea as well. he almost died and is perm messed up now and discharged from the military. scary stuff for sure

Whoa, very good to know.

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Originally Posted by guns01

the kid i know that killed his liver was taking both the extract and drinking it as tea as well. he almost died and is perm messed up now and discharged from the military. scary stuff for sure

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Damn! I know drinking it is good for you, like many things consuming to excess causes horrific probs

Wtf I thought green tea was actually helpful for liver detox?

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Originally Posted by ajordana

Wtf I thought green tea was actually helpful for liver detox?

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from what i understand the tea isnt quite as harsh as the excessive amounts of eckg(or whatever the extract is). the extract hammers the hell out of your liver big time