Hepatotoxicity of green tea extract: systematic review of case reports and clinical trial safety data by the United States Pharmacopeia
Oketch-Rabah HA, Roe AL, Rider CV, Bonkovsky HL, Giancaspro GI, Navarro V
Published in Toxicology Reports
Methodology
Systematic safety review of case reports, clinical trials and animal data on green tea extract and liver injury, conducted for the US Pharmacopeia
Key Findings
Idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity is linked to concentrated catechin extracts, particularly when taken fasted and at high EGCG doses; a cautionary label statement was recommended.
Conclusions
Concentrated green tea extract can cause serious liver injury; brewed tea is not implicated.
Limitations
Case-report causality assessment is inherently uncertain.
Supplements Studied
Liver injury has been associated with concentrated green tea extracts, particularly at high EGCG doses taken on an empty stomach.
Study Details
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