Herbalife Products Associated To Fatal Acute Liver Failure In India In A Medical Report

According to a case study report published by medical staff in India with the title:

Slimming to the Death: Herbalife-Associated Fatal Acute Liver Failure—Heavy Metals, Toxic Compounds, Bacterial Contaminants and Psychotropic Agents in Products Sold in India

Herbalife is a global nutrition and weight management company selling and marketing nutritional and weight loss supplements.

Herbalife associated liver injury was reported from multiple countries in the West. India is fast becoming the largest growing market for Herbalife products, expected to surpass the United States in sales revenue.

We report the first case of a fatal acute liver failure from the Asia-Pacific region, in a young woman who consumed Herbalife products over 2 months.

We also present unsettling data that showcase heavy metal contamination, toxic compounds, psychotropic substances, and pathogenic bacterial contamination in similar Herbalife products in India. The growth of Herbalife in India and expansion of its nutrition clubs in major cities that promise fake health benefits portend a serious public health concern. ( J CLIN EXP HEPA- TOL 2019;9:268–272)

Herbal and dietary supplements (HDSs) are increas ingly used among the general population and remain a growing market globally. They can be procured without prescription and are generally consumed without specific medical advice and monitoring. Unlike standard prescription drugs, the safety and efficacy of HDSs are not well studied. The marketing of HDSs as food supplements surpass required preclinical and clinical testing in many countries.

Well-described large studies have shown that various HDSs are associated with severe liver injury.

Herbalife is a global nutrition, weight man- agement and direct selling company that develops, mar-kets and sells nutritional and weight loss supplements, sports nutrition and personal care products. Herbalife!- associated liver injury was initially reported from Israel, followed by Spain, Switzerland, Iceland, Argentina and the United States.

Recently, India has become the largest growing market for Herbalife products and is expected to surpass United States in sales revenue in the coming years. We report the first case of Herbalife associated fatal acute liver failure from the Asia–Pacific region in a young woman who consumed three products over a period of 2 months.

We also present unsettling data of comprehensive chemical analysis, toxicology and microbial contamination studies of similar Herbalife products retrieved from the patient’s original place of purchase (a nutritional club at Kottakal in Kerala) and those purchased online from different regions in India.

The full report can be downloaded here.

 

About Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.

Herbalife Nutrition is a global nutrition company whose purpose is to make the world healthier and happier. The Company has been on a mission for nutrition – changing people’s lives with great nutrition products and programs – since 1980.

Herbalife Nutrition offers high-quality, science-backed products, most of which are produced in Company-operated facilities, one-on-one coaching with an Herbalife Nutrition independent distributor, and a supportive community approach that inspires customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Herbalife Nutrition’s targeted nutrition, weight-management, energy and fitness and personal care products are available exclusively to and through its independent distributors in more than 90 countries. Through its corporate social responsibility efforts, Herbalife Nutrition supports the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation (HNF) and its Casa Herbalife programs to help bring good nutrition to children in need. Herbalife Nutrition is also proud to sponsor more than 190 world-class athletes, teams and events around the globe.

Herbalife Nutrition has approximately 8,900 employees worldwide, and its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HLF) with net sales of approximately $4.9 billion in 2018.