Texas woman suffers liver failure after taking popular over-the-counter supplement

A young woman from Texas never thought that the vitamin she was taking to strengthen her hair, skin and nails could be dangerous to her health, writes Daily Mail.

Photo: Ekaterina79 | Dreamstime.com

Jenny Ramirez, a mother of four, had been trying to lose weight for months. She was doing it, but there were some problems along the way to her ideal weight. Among them was hair loss, which was likely caused by a lack of nutrients or protein.

So Ramirez, of Fort Worth, Texas, started taking a common over-the-counter vitamin supplement that claims to improve the health of hair, skin and nails.

On the subject: US Surgeon General Advises Taking Vitamin A Instead of Measles Vaccines: Doctors Outraged

However, soon after starting to take the vitamins in late February, she noticed yellowing of her eyes and skin.

Doctors discovered that her liver had failed, which her gastroenterologist determined was caused by the methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in the drug.

Studies have shown that MSM is generally harmless and may even protect against liver damage.

However, some scientists believe that MSM may worsen liver damage in people with existing liver disease, although there have been no documented cases.

However, Ramirez developed jaundice and had surgery to remove her gallbladder because hard deposits had formed there and were blocking the flow of bile through the liver and gallbladder.

Ramirez did not say how her doctor came to the conclusion that MSM was the cause, although supplements not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can be contaminated on the manufacturing line or contain doses that are significantly higher than recommended.

A mother of four warned her TikTok followers from her hospital room about the risks of taking a supplement manufactured and sold by a popular pharmacy chain: "Doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with me except that my gallbladder needed to be removed. They thought I had hepatitis, but the tests were negative."

When doctors asked about medications and vitamins, Ramirez explained that as she lost weight, she began taking more supplements to maintain her strength and make up for vitamin deficiencies due to her dietary changes.

Among them was a supplement designed to strengthen hair and nails, increase collagen protein and provide minerals such as zinc and vitamin E.

Her case appears to be rare, as no similar cases have been reported in the medical literature, either in humans or mice.

A 2018 study in rats found that MSM protected them from liver damage caused by high doses of acetaminophen, sold as Tylenol.

Another study in rats found that a high dose of MSM—about five grams per kilogram of body weight—did not cause liver toxicity.

Human trials have yielded similar results: A 2006 study found no liver toxicity in people taking six grams of MSM per day for three months.

And another study published in the journal Nutrients confirmed that the substance was “well tolerated” in people with arthritis, and “new research suggests that MSM may have future uses in the treatment of various types of cancer.”

However, MSM can be harmful in very high doses.

A 2013 study published in Springer Nature found that animals given standard human-equivalent doses showed positive effects on knee cartilage health, but those given doses 100 times higher than normal experienced atrophy of several organs, including the liver and spleen.

The usual safe dose is one to four grams per day, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The dosage in the supplement Ramirez took was 100 micrograms, or 0,1 grams, which is not considered a dangerous dose for humans.

Doctors point to other components of hair, skin and nail supplements that can cause harm.

Some popular hair growth supplements may contain ingredients that Toronto-based liver specialist Dr. Supriya Joshi advises against.

These include ashwagandha and turmeric, most often due to impurities, excessive dosages, and interactions with each other and with prescribed medications.

She said: 'The most commonly found substances that affect liver health and even cause liver failure include turmeric and curcumins, green tea extract, ashwagandha, red yeast rice and black cohosh.

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So if you're going to take supplements to improve your health, first figure out why you're taking them and whether you can make lifestyle changes to help you feel better. Also, be sure to know the dosage of what you're taking and let your doctor know."

Many supplements and vitamins are not regulated by the FDA, making it difficult to know if you're actually getting what's on the label.

In addition, due to the lack of controls, manufacturers can add substances to the composition that are not listed on the label, and some of them can interact with drugs.

The federal agency only intervenes in cases where harm from a product has been proven, although it does inspect factories where food additives are made.

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