Popular internet supplement nearly killed British woman
A 44-year-old British woman, Lois Kinder, nearly died after taking a popular ashwagandha supplement bought online for £5. She developed fulminant liver failure requiring an emergency transplant. The operation was complicated by thrombosis and three cardiac arrests, leading to severe brain damage. Doctors suspect ashwagandha caused the liver destruction.
A 44-year-old British woman, Lois Kinder, nearly died after taking a popular ashwagandha supplement bought online for £5. She had been consuming gummy candies containing the plant extract for about a year to combat stress and perimenopause symptoms, while also promoting them through social media. In July, her skin took on a jaundiced hue, after which her daughter found her unconscious. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with fulminant liver failure, and on July 22, Kinder underwent an emergency liver transplant. The operation was complicated by a blood clot blocking the pulmonary artery, causing three consecutive cardiac arrests. Prolonged hypoxia led to severe brain damage, raising questions about her ability to walk independently. Doctors immediately suspected ashwagandha as the cause of the liver destruction. The UK Food Standards Agency issued a warning about the risks of buying supplements on online platforms. In several countries, including Denmark and France, ashwagandha is already banned or restricted.