Acute Hepatitis and Liver Failure Following the Use of a Dietary Supplement
If any physician has an acute liver failure case that might be associated with any nutritional supplement, he or she should notify the San Diego County Epidemiology Branch at (619) 692-8499 or by using a confidential morbidity report form.
Many physicians do not routinely ask about nutritional supplement use, but surveys have shown that the majority of patients use a supplement of some type on at least a weekly basis. The supplement specifically identified in this alert, OxiELITE Pro, is more likely to be used by young adults, athletes, military members, etc., who would not normally be “at risk” for acute liver failure.
For more information about nutritional supplement use for providers, a very nice resource is found at this DoD-sponsored website (Human Performance Resource Center). The website is available to all providers, and, by clicking on the OPSS (Operation Supplement Safety) button, there are many resources for providers (and patients), including a guide on taking a supplement history and links to information about commonly used supplements.
Other useful resources include the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.
Click Here for the CDC Health Advisory