Introduction: Turmeric is the common name for the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. In the recent years, food supplements containing turmeric have been marketed and widely used by an increasing number of consumers. Spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions to food supplements are collected within the Phytovigilance system.
Methods: An ad hoc multidisciplinary group investigated the suspected cases of hepatotoxicity reported to the Italian Phytovigilance system associated with the assumption of turmeric food supplements with the methodology specific to pharmacovigilance as well as for the evaluation of the quality and safety of food supplements.
Results: A cluster of 28 spontaneous reports of acute hepatitis, mostly with cholestasis, associated with turmeric products were sent to the Italian Phytovigilance system in the first six months of 2019. In all cases, except one, the causality assessment was at least possible. The suspected products were collected and analysed for the presence of drugs, heavy metals, aflatoxins, pesticides, synthetic dyes and pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Conclusion: On the basis of the results of all the activities performed by multidisciplinary group, regulatory intervention was taken. This study highlights the importance of developing an integrated evaluation approach for the evaluation of the adverse effects associated with the use of food supplements.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.4415/ANN_20_04_08 | DOI Listing |
J Med Food
January 2025
Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Paterna (Valencia), Spain.
Recent studies show that inorganic arsenic (As) exerts a toxic effect on the intestinal epithelium, causing a significant increase in its permeability. This disruption of the epithelial barrier may favor the entry of contaminants or toxins into the systemic circulation, thus causing toxicity not only at the intestinal level but possibly also at the systemic level. The present study conducts an evaluation of the protective effect of various dietary supplements and plant extracts against the intestinal toxicity of inorganic As.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Open
December 2024
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University Graduate School of Medicine, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Introduction: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble vitamin-like quinone. The plasma levels of CoQ10 are reduced in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CoQ10 supplementation can improve mitochondrial function and decrease oxidative stress in these patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSyst Rev
January 2025
Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Background: Impaired intrauterine growth, a significant global health problem, contributes to a higher burden of infant morbidity and mortality, mainly in resource-poor settings. Maternal anemia and undernutrition, two important causes of impaired intrauterine growth, are prioritized by global nutrition targets of 2030. We synthesized the evidence on the role of preconception nutrition supplements in reducing maternal anemia and improving intrauterine growth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCrit Care
January 2025
Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 3-401, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Background: Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) often have gut colonization with pathogenic bacteria and such colonization is associated with increased risk for death and infection. We conducted a trial to determine whether a prebiotic would improve the gut microbiome to decrease gut pathogen colonization and decrease downstream risk for infection among newly admitted medical ICU patients with sepsis.
Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of adults who were admitted to the medical ICU for sepsis and were receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Sci Rep
January 2025
ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Namkum, Ranchi, 834010, India.
The present study investigates the supplemental effects of chia seed oil (CSO) on the growth performance and modulation of intestinal microbiota in Labeo rohita fingerlings. Four diets were formulated with graded levels of CSO: 1.0%, 2.
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