Results of the secondary national survey of cases of drug-induced liver injury concerning to weight-loss supplements or health foods

Abstract

We did national fact-finding for cases of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) probably caused by weight-loss supplements or health foods under the auspices by The Japan Society of Hepatology. Outcomes added up to 31 cases (29 females and 2 males). The majority of DILI, 21 cases (67.7%) were related to Chinese weight-loss supplements. Serious cases amounted 8, and 5 of them were due to Chinese weight-loss supplements: 1 died of liver failure and 3 of the 4 survivors received liver transplantations. Besides the Chinese weight-loss supplements, Agaricus blazei or Ganoderma lucidum (Rei-shi), Chinese traditional herbal medicine (name of the drug was unknown) and Japanese weight-loss supplements were supposed to have caused serious hepatitis. Laboratory data and histopathological findings of the liver suggested that individual immune reaction participated in occurrence of DILI.