Hyderabad: Rampant use of digestive supplements, over-the-counter Ayurvedic laxatives, medicines for jaundice, fitness powders and various combinations of liquid and powders to loose or gain weight are damaging the digestive system and liver, sending alarm bells ringing among the medical community.
This pseudo-scientific health seeking behaviour is leading to diseases the cause of which have become tough to determine.
A recent case of a 40-year-old non-alcoholic developing severe alcoholic disease had the doctors re-examine why he developed severe jaundice when he didn’t have a drop of alcohol all his life. The rather unique diagnostic work was published in the Nature Journal and the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
During investigation, the team of doctors found that the patient had digestive powder made of 30 different herbs and it had the ability to self-ferment and generate alcohol. This was found to be the cause of severe jaundice.
Experts say that in their out-patient clinics, digestive supplements are a challenge as they find a lot of patients consuming the concoctions.
Dr Naveen Polavarapu, consultant gastroenterologist and transplant hepatologist at Apollo Hospitals, said, “Due to the health seeking behaviour, there is unchecked over-the-counter sale of products with combinations that people are not aware of. Hence any medicine, either of an alternative system or allopathic system, has to be verified by medical experts before taking them.” Dr Polavarapu said non-alcoholic steatophepatitis was one of the most important causes of liver cirrhosis and it must be understood that it is not only fat that affects the heart but also the liver. A fatty liver along with alcohol or any viral hepatitis increases the risk of liver cirrhosis.
While the causes such as fatty foods, uncontrolled diabetes and thyroid, increased triglycerides and cholesterol levels are known, there are new sources from products that are also now found to affect the people, Dr Polavarapu said.
Experts state that they find products for fitness, losing and gaining weight also ruining people’s health as it affects the liver as well as the overall metabolism of the body.
Supported scientific evidence is very important or consultation with a registered specialist is required before opting for these products.
Dr Madhusudhan, professor of surgical gastroenterology and liver specialist at Osmania General Hospital, said, “These powders are not only damaging the liver but also depressing the bone marrow functioning due to which blood supply is affected. Often in viral hepatitis, there is loss of appetite and when these powders are used they add to the depression. There is a strong need for pharmacovigilance and misuse of these drugs as in the long term they are proving to be more harmful.”
Experts say that while they have been seeing such cases frequently, documentation and further research is a cumbersome task as it is not possible for them to verify the contents.
For allopathic doctors, the struggle is to save the patient and often they have to opt for aggressive treatment models to curtail the damage.
H3
