Popular supplement taken by millions of Americans leaves woman HOSPITALIZED for liver damage
After experiencing a scary health scare that almost lost her her liver due to a popular supplement she believed would help her well-being, a woman from New Jersey is speaking out.
After seeing a doctor on Instagram advocate for turmeric as a natural treatment for joint pain and inflammation, Katie Mohan, 57, started taking the medication in March.
She bought the turmeric capsules online and started taking them every day without thinking twice after being persuaded by the positive reviews and claims of improved health.
A medical emergency swiftly developed from what had begun as a straightforward wellness practice.
Mohan started having uncomfortable symptoms within a few weeks, including nausea, severe exhaustion, and ongoing stomach ache.
She initially dismissed them, but she realized something was very wrong when her urine became dark, which is a common indicator of liver dysfunction.
Mohan didn’t start to assume the pills were the cause until she learned about a man who had been hospitalized after taking turmeric supplements and had almost the same symptoms.
“My mind suddenly clicked,” she said to NBC News.
And I exclaimed, ‘Oh my god!
I question whether this is my problem.
She hurried to the ER, where a blood test validated her suspicions.
A crucial sign of liver damage, her liver enzyme levels were 60 times higher than usual.
Physicians informed her that she was “one step” away from requiring an organ transplant and that she was in danger of developing liver failure.
The active component that gives turmeric its vivid color, curcumin, was present in the pills Mohan had been taking in amounts of 2,250 mg each pill.
For a woman of average weight, that is roughly eleven times the amount advised by the World Health Organization.
Although eating turmeric is usually safe, experts caution that taking large amounts of it as a supplement can be harmful.
The use of turmeric pills has skyrocketed, particularly among those who suffer from chronic pain or arthritis.
They are frequently promoted as all-natural remedies for cancer, joint discomfort, inflammation, and memory loss.
However, worries regarding their safety have grown along with their popularity, particularly in unregulated, high-dose formulations that are marketed online.
Mohan was treated by NYU hepatologist Dr. Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos, who described her condition as “very serious” and highlighted how near she was to suffering from catastrophic organ failure.
He claimed that “Katie was actually one step away from having complete liver damage, liver failure, and the need for a liver transplant.”
Thankfully, Mohan recovered, in part because of the liver’s special capacity for self-regeneration.
She was monitored and given IV therapy during her six days in the hospital.
Mohan has sworn off any supplements because he is still disturbed by the encounter.
She declared, “I will never take another supplement again.”
“In general, I just didn’t feel great.
In addition, I observed that my pee was darker even though I drank a lot of water each day.
Mohan’s situation is by no means unique.
Today, almost 11 million Americans frequently use turmeric, especially for arthritis, yet this wellness fad might be contributing to a public health problem that goes unreported.
According to a 2022 study, the number of liver failure patients associated with supplements increased eightfold between 1995 and 2020.
Physicians now advise patients to exercise extreme caution when using over-the-counter supplements, particularly those purchased online or consumed in large quantities.
Serious hazards could be present in what appears to be a harmless, natural treatment, and they don’t always become apparent until it’s nearly too late.