This study looked at 386 complementary and alternative medicine products linked to adverse events in 91 patients treated at a hospital in South India between 2021 and 2023. The team examined whether these products were connected to acute liver failure and death. They also tested the products for safety issues like heavy metal contamination, undisclosed animal parts, and fake pharmaceutical ingredients.
The results showed that 39.6% of patients experienced acute liver failure, a serious condition. Among those with liver failure, 38.9% died, compared to 10.9% of patients without liver failure. Testing revealed that many products contained high levels of mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and lead, which exceeded World Health Organization safety limits. Specifically, exposure to cadmium was strongly linked to liver failure in this group.
Readers should understand that this is a retrospective study, meaning researchers looked back at past data. Such studies can show links between events but cannot prove that one thing caused another. The findings highlight real safety concerns about certain products but do not mean all alternative medicines are dangerous. Patients should discuss any alternative treatments with their doctors before use.