Three Cases of Liver Injury Caused by Sennomotokounou, a Chinese Dietary Supplement for Weight Loss

Kazuhito KAWATA; Yasunori TAKEHIRA; Yoshimasa KOBAYASHI; Mutsuo KITAGAWA; Masami YAMADA; Kazunori HANAJIMA; Gou MUROHISA; Motoko KAWAMURA; Yasushi IWAOKA; Tomohiko WADA; Satoru MORITA; Moriya IWAIZUMI; Satuki MAKING

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.42.1188

Kazuhito KAWATA, Yasunori TAKEHIRA, Yoshimasa KOBAYASHI, Mutsuo KITAGAWA, Masami YAMADA, Kazunori HANAJIMA, Gou MUROHISA, Motoko KAWAMURA, Yasushi IWAOKA, Tomohiko WADA, Satoru MORITA, Moriya IWAIZUMI, Satuki MAKING

Author information

Kazuhito KAWATA
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center
Yasunori TAKEHIRA
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center
Yoshimasa KOBAYASHI
The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
Mutsuo KITAGAWA
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center
Masami YAMADA
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center
Kazunori HANAJIMA
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center
Gou MUROHISA
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center
Motoko KAWAMURA
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center
Yasushi IWAOKA
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center
Tomohiko WADA
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center
Satoru MORITA
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center
Moriya IWAIZUMI
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center
Satuki MAKING
The Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center

Keywords: hepatotoxicity, hyperthyroidism, dietary supplement, n-nitroso-fenfluramine

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2003 Volume 42 Issue 12 Pages 1188-1192

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.42.1188

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Abstract

Dietary supplements have become very popular worldwide because they are believed to be safe with few side effects. Here, we report three cases of liver injury caused by Sennomotokounou, a Chinese dietary supplement for weight reduction. All patients developed acute hepatotoxicity and recovered spontaneously after withdrawal of dietary product. This product contains fenfluramine, nnitroso-fenfluramine, and dried thyroid tissue powder. In Japan, the regulatory agency for drug and food safety received 120 reports of hepatotoxicity associated with Sennomotokounou between 2000 and 2002. Physicians should inquire about the use of dietary supplements whenever patients present with unexplained acute liver dysfunction.
(Internal Medicine 42: 1188-1192, 2003)

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