Dietary supplements remain popular despite repeated warnings from healthcare experts. In the latest scare, Japan-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical recalled three supplement brands — ‘Beni Koji Choleste Help’ and two others — on Thursday (28 March 2024) after customer complaints of kidney problems.
“We prioritize macronutrients (nutrients that the body requires in large quantities, such as carbohydrates, fats and protein) in our daily diet, overlooking the all-important micronutrients (vitamins and minerals required by our bodies in small quantities) that are crucial to health,” says Dr Abhimanyu Parashar, safety and pharmacovigilance specialist, Syneos Health, Gurugram. This creates a deficiency of the latter that we try to address with the indiscriminate usage of random supplements, setting the stage for health conditions.
Adding to this, Paromita Biswas, senior dietitian, HP Ghosh Multispecialty Hospital, Kolkata, says many such supplements aren’t backed by substantial scientific research.
What were the effects of the supplements?
Supplements manufactured by the Japanese pharmaceutical company were linked to renal complications. Products like ‘Beni Koji Choleste Help’ contains red yeast rice, which is traditionally used in the country to lower cholesterol levels. However, the recent situation — resulting in the death of four individuals and more than 100 hospitalizations — has raised concerns about its safety. The company stated that preliminary tests did not find any traces of citrinin (a toxic compound found in red yeast rice) in the products. However, further investigations are ongoing to detect the cause of rising kidney problems.
Addressing the Parliament, Fumio Kishida, the Prime Minister of Japan, said that the government is aware of the urgent need to address the crisis and is taking steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Besides rice, the presence of citrinin has also been reported in other food items like cereals and fruits. The toxin mainly targets the kidneys and causes renal degeneration over time, resulting in weight loss. Dr Parashar says he has encountered many cases over the last 10 years where young people — some as young as 20 years old — have been hospitalized due to chronic kidney disease resulting from excessive supplement intake.
The ill-effects of supplements are also backed by research. A study published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements stated that dietary supplements can damage the liver significantly. Informing about their unfavorable outcomes, Dr Pradeepta Kumar Sethy, director, gastroenterology, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, Kolkata, says, “High doses of supplements may also cause digestive issues and interfere with other medications.”
What should be done to prevent such a scenario?
To prevent severe consequences resulting from supplement overuse, the following measures need to be taken on an emergency basis:
♦ Amid the current turmoil, experts highlight the urgent need for increased vigilance and transparency regarding dietary supplements.
♦ A robust framework for quality checks needs to be created and implemented by the government at the earliest.
♦ Spreading awareness and debunking myths surrounding supplements can go a long way toward helping people live healthier lives.
♦ Pharma companies must prioritize consumer safety by changing policies and strengthening regulatory measures.
Dr Parashar says, “It may be safer to consume a single supplement rather than a cocktail of them, as we do not know [how they are processed] in the body.”
Takeaways
Japan-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has recalled three supplement brands after reports of four deaths and more than 100 hospitalizations. Experts say high doses of supplements can bring about an array of health conditions, including kidney damage, digestive issues and weight loss. To prevent such a scenario, they recommend pharma companies implement strict quality control measures. Additionally, spreading awareness about the ill-effects of supplements can significantly contribute to people living healthier lives.
