We’ve all heard the grim news about weight loss products and similar supplements that can be purchased from the Internet: apparently they can kill you. Just recently, Chinese green tea bought online caused acute hepatitis in one 16-year-old girl. The case report was published on September 23rd, 2015 in the British Medical Journal Case Reports.
THE DANGERS OF ONLINE SUPPLEMENTS
The teenager bought the camellia sinensis green tea in an attempt to a shed a few pounds. The patient stated that she was, “drinking about 3 cups a day, [until I] started having horrible pains in my joints, and felt very dizzy and sick.”
Upon admission to the hospital and physical examination, she was diagnosed with a 37.6°C temperature, a 124/78mm HG blood pressure and a heart rate of 98 bpm. She was visibly jaundiced and was diagnosed with severe acute hepatitis. The good thing about acute hepatic conditions is that they are easily reversed within a relatively short period of time with the right treatment. Hence, after cessation of green tea consumption, admission to the hepatology portion of the hospital, and introduction of intravenous fluids, her acute condition was resolved.
After such a near-death experience (could have caused liver failure if tea was continuously consumed), this young lady realized that she, ” will never buy any online tea again or any weight loss pills. People should be more aware of what they are buying and the side effects.” In addition, scientists advise consumers to compile comprehensive research on online substances or supplements before consuming the product, especially if it is purchased online.
Despite what a supplement promises to do, everyone should know to be very wary of anything that is purchased online; now you can add green tea to that list. The complete article can be read full text on the BMJ website.
