Woman's Liver Began to Fail After Taking Weight Loss Supplement Pill Containing Banned Substance

Photo byFlickr.

In a cautionary tale for the growing number of individuals turning to weight-loss supplements, a 35-year-old woman from Kentucky, U.S., suffered acute liver failure and required a liver transplant after consuming a popular diet pill in 2014.

This case highlights the potential dangers of unregulated dietary supplements and underscores the importance of safety in the supplement industry.

Rapid Onset of Liver Failure After Supplement Use

The woman, who had no prior health conditions, took three doses of a product known as Saba Appetite Control and Energy (ACE) pills over a span of two days. This supplement promises to help users lose weight by suppressing appetite and boosting energy levels.

Just two weeks after ingesting the pills, she began to show symptoms of jaundice, an early sign of liver dysfunction. According to a case study published in the journal Gastroenterology, her condition rapidly deteriorated.

Within a week, the patient experienced swelling in her legs and abdominal fluid buildup, a condition known as ascites, before her liver ultimately failed. The woman was fortunate to receive a liver transplant eight weeks after the onset of jaundice and has since recovered.

In their report, the researchers stated, “This case of drug-induced fulminant liver failure was likely due to the Saba ACE supplement.” Fulminant liver failure refers to a rapid decline in liver function that can be fatal without a transplant.

Potentially Dangerous Ingredients

One ingredient of particular concern in the product is DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine), a stimulant derived from amphetamines. DMAA has been linked to severe health risks, including heart attacks and even death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began cracking down on products containing DMAA in 2013, sending warning letters to 11 companies, urging them to remove DMAA from their formulations. Although DMAA was removed from Saba ACE’s formula in the fall of 2013, the product the woman ingested contained the substance.

“DMAA-containing dietary supplements are illegal, and their marketing violates the law,” the FDA stated in a July 2013 post on its website. Although manufacturers often market DMAA as a "natural" ingredient, the FDA maintains that no reliable scientific evidence supports the claim that DMAA occurs naturally in plants.

While the exact cause of the woman’s liver failure remains uncertain, it’s not known whether DMAA alone was responsible for her condition or if it was the result of a combination of ingredients or contamination.

That said, the close temporal (time) association between supplement use and the onset of liver failure strongly indicates the supplement is the direct cause. And cases of liver failure following the use of herbal and weight loss supplements have been documented multiple times in the literature.

The Hidden Dangers of Green Tea Extract

Beyond DMAA, the woman’s supplement also contained green tea extract, a common ingredient in many weight-loss products. While generally regarded as safe, green tea extract has been implicated in several cases of liver damage.

Green tea extract was also part of the new DMAA-free formulation of Saba ACE, along with other popular ingredients such as caffeine, green coffee bean extract, garcinia cambogia, and L-carnitine. Although none of these ingredients have been definitively proven to cause liver failure, they do add to the growing concerns about the long-term safety of such supplements.

A similar incident was reported in a published case study involving a 16-year-old boy from Texas who experienced liver failure after using a green tea extract supplement for weight loss, further illustrating the potential dangers of even widely accepted ingredients when taken in excess or combined with other substances.

A published case report of a 16-year-old suffering liver damage from green tea supplement use.Photo byWorld Journal of Gastroenterology.

The Need for Stricter Regulation

This case serves as a reminder that despite FDA warnings and restrictions, supplements containing dangerous ingredients like DMAA can still be found online. Products with DMAA are currently available for purchase on multiple websites, posing ongoing risks to consumers who may be unaware of the potential consequences.

“There have been two reported cases of liver failure associated with DMAA use in the military and recently 43 cases of hepatitis in Hawaii associated with OxyElitePro, a supplement containing DMAA, with two liver transplants and one death,” the researchers noted in the report.

These findings reflect a broader, systemic issue within the supplement industry. Unlike prescription drugs, supplements do not undergo rigorous testing before reaching consumers. This means there is no guarantee that what’s on the label matches what’s in the product, and contamination or dangerous combinations of ingredients can easily slip through the cracks.

In conclusion, while dietary supplements promise quick results and seem harmless due to their widespread availability, they can come with serious risks. Consumers should remain vigilant about the safety of the products they use and push for stronger oversight in the industry to prevent future tragedies.