ABSTRACT
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in developed countries has increased significantly over the years. Among the most popular are the weight loss supplements or "fat burners." Liver failure due to these popular remedies has been widely recognized. Usnic acid has been an ingredient of dietary supplements that cause liver failure. Its hepatotoxicity has not been recognized because it is usually mixed with other ingredients that are presumably hepatotoxic. We describe a case of a 28-yr-old woman who presented with fulminant liver failure requiring orthotopic liver transplantation, after taking pure usnic acid for weight loss. This is the first report on fulminant liver failure associated with the ingestion of pure usnic acid. A discussion about hepatotoxicity of the different compounds of dietary supplements is presented. This is a reminder for the clinicians about the potential side effects of CAM.
Subject(s)
Benzofurans/adverse effects , Dietary Supplements/adverse effects , Liver Failure/chemically induced , Liver Failure/surgery , Adult , Benzofurans/administration & dosage , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Liver Failure/physiopathology , Liver Transplantation , Obesity/drug therapy , Risk Assessment , Weight Loss/drug effectsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The role of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha (HNF1alpha) in the maturity-onset diabetes of the young 3 (MODY3) is well established. A common polymorphism, I27L that is not linked to MODY3, has been demonstrated to affect beta cell function. To facilitate the identification of subjects with a low beta cell reserve, we developed beta cell indices and validated according to a genetic study. METHODS: Insulin sensitivity index (ISI), 1st phase insulin response (1stIR), and 2nd phase insulin response (2ndIR) were assessed in 60 glucose tolerant subjects using hyperglycemic clamps. Delta1stIR and delta2ndIR were defined as differences between 1stIR (or 2ndIR) and the ISI-adjusted 1stIR (or 2ndIR). The genotypes were determined from genomic DNA. RESULTS: Delta1stIR (P = 0.0130) and delta2ndIR (P = 0.0482) differed among the 3 genotypic groups. Multivariate analysis confirmed the independent influence of the I27L polymorphism on delta1stIR (P = 0.0130) and delta2ndIR (P = 0.0369). Within the LL group, 75% and 63% of the subjects were within the lowest quartile of delta1stIR (P = 0.0011) and delta2ndIR (P = 0.0277), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: With new beta cell indices, we demonstrated the independent impact of the I27L polymorphism on beta cell function. The new beta cell indices will facilitate the identification of glucose tolerant subjects with reduced beta cell reserve.