• Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Webcasts
  • Data Privacy
  • Français
  • my CNW 
    • Login
    • Register
  • Client Login 
    • Online Member Centre
    • Next Gen Communications Cloud
    • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Sign Up
  • Send a Release
Cision Canada
  • News
  • Products
    • Overview
    • Cision Communications Cloud®
    • Monitoring
    • Distribution
    • Multimedia
    • Measurement & Analytics
    • IR
  • Contact
    • Become a Client
    • Request a Demo
    • Editorial Bureaus
    • Partnerships
    • General Enquiries
    • Media
    • Worldwide Offices

 

When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
Advanced Search
    Advanced Search
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • All Public Company
      • News Releases Overview

      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
      • Multimedia Gallery Overview

      • Trending Topics

      • All Trending Topics
  • Business
      • Auto & Transportation

      • All Automotive & Transportation
      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • Auto & Transportation Overview

      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • All Business Technology
      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • Business Technology Overview

      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • All Entertain­ment & Media
      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • Entertain­ment & Media Overview

      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • All Financial Services & Investing
      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • Financial Services & Investing Overview

      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • All General Business
      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • General Business Overview

      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • All Consumer Technology
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • Consumer Technology Overview

      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • All Energy
      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • Energy & Natural Resources Overview

      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • All Environ­ment
      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • Environ­ment Overview

      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing Overview

      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • All Telecomm­unications
      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • Telecomm­unications Overview

      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • All Consumer Products & Retail
      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • Consumer Products & Retail Overview

      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • All Entertain­ment & Media
      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • Entertain­ment & Media Overview

      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • All Health
      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • Health Overview

      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • All Sports
      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • Sports Overview

      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • All Travel
      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • Travel Overview

      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • All Policy & Public Interest
      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Canadian Federal Government
      • Canadian Municipal Government
      • Canadian Provincial Government
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • Policy & Public Interest Overview

      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • All People & Culture
      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • People & Culture Overview

      • View All People & Culture

  • Overview
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Monitoring
  • Distribution
  • Multimedia
  • Measurement & Analytics
  • IR
  • Become a Client
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • General Enquiries
  • Media
  • Worldwide Offices
  • Cision Canada
  • Send a Release
  • FR
    • Phone

    • 877-269-7890 from 8 AM - 10 PM ET

    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Cision

      877-269-7890
      from 8 AM - 10 PM ET

  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Webcasts
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
    • Trending Topics
  • Business
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
    • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Webcasts
  • GDPR
  • Overview
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Monitoring
  • Distribution
  • Multimedia
  • Measurement & Analytics
  • IR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Webcasts
  • GDPR
  • Become a Client
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • General Enquiries
  • Media
  • Worldwide Offices
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Webcasts
  • GDPR

Information Update - Health Canada takes steps to help Canadians avoid rare risk of liver injury from use of green tea extract health products


News provided by

Health Canada

Nov 15, 2017, 11:13 ET

Share this article

Share this article


OTTAWA, Nov. 15, 2017 /CNW/ - Health Canada has completed a safety review of green tea extract in natural health products and, as a result, is strengthening the warnings on labels of these products to help reduce the risk of liver injury.

Green tea extract is an herbal ingredient found in natural health products promoted for a range of uses, including weight management and as a source of antioxidants. It is sold in various forms as capsules, tablets, powders and liquids. The vast majority of products are authorized for adult use only (18 years of age and older), including those authorized for weight management.

Green tea in any form, including as beverages, foods and an extract in natural health products, is considered generally safe for the majority of consumers. The liver-related adverse reactions with green tea extract in natural health products, while potentially serious, are rare. The risk of liver-related injury is already included in the approved Health Canada label, or monograph. Since it was developed in 2008, Health Canada's monograph for Green Tea Extracts has included a warning advising consumers to consult a healthcare practitioner before using the product if they have a liver disorder, or if they develop symptoms of liver trouble. It also advises that these products should be taken with food to help reduce the risk of side effects, including liver injury. In most cases, the liver-related side effects are reversible upon stopping use of the product and with medical attention.

Health Canada undertook the safety review in light of continuing reports worldwide of cases of serious liver injury, including a recent report in Canada. The purpose of the review was to further clarify the risk and identify whether added safety measures might be needed. Health Canada has concluded that the available evidence confirms a link between green tea extract and rare liver-related adverse reactions. What remains unclear from the evidence is why some people may be more susceptible than others to liver injury.

Because of the uncertainty of this potential risk, Health Canada is taking additional steps to help improve the safe use of green tea extract natural health products. The Department:

  • is asking companies to update all affected natural health product labels with strengthened warnings to advise that:
    • rare but serious cases of liver injury have been reported with green tea extract use
    • consumers should stop using these products if symptoms or signs of potential liver injury appear (the revised warnings appear in the table below).
  • has updated the Green Tea Extracts monograph, which applies to certain products, to incorporate the revised warnings.
  • is requesting, as a precautionary measure, that product licence holders of natural health products containing green tea extract as a medicinal ingredient and that are intended for children and adolescents:
    • either remove the green tea extract from such products, or
    • revise the label to indicate that the product is only for adults (over 18 years of age).

Current warnings

Strengthened warnings

Since 2008, the labels of natural health products that contain green tea extract have typically included:

  • a statement about the risk of liver injury: "consult a healthcare practitioner prior to use if you have a liver disorder or if you develop symptoms of liver trouble (such as abdominal pain, dark urine or jaundice)"
  • a direction to "take with food"

Health Canada is clarifying warnings by requesting product labels to include new text as indicated in bold:

  • "If you have a liver disorder, consult a health care practitioner prior to use. Stop use if you develop symptoms of liver trouble such as yellowing of the skin/eyes (jaundice), stomach pain, dark urine, sweating, nausea, unusual tiredness and/or loss of appetite and consult a health care practitioner"
  • "Rare, unpredictable cases of liver injury associated with green tea extract-containing products have been reported (in Canada and internationally)"

Health Canada is also communicating this information directly to health professionals.

What should consumers do?

  • Parents and caregivers should check to make sure that their child is not taking a green tea extract product.
  • If you have a liver disorder, talk to a health care practitioner before using a natural health product that contains green tea extract.
  • Read the ingredients and follow the directions of the health products you use. Keep in mind that using more than one product at a time with similar purposes or ingredients can increase the risk of accidently taking too much of that ingredient.
  • Check whether your natural product contains green tea extract by looking for the common name "Green tea extract" on the package label.
    • Labels may also show the combination of the Latin name "Camillia sinensis" and any of these other common names that indicate that a product may contain green tea extract:
      • "Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract," "Camellia sinensis," "Camellia sinensis extract," "Tea Extract," "Tea Leaves Extract," "Thea Chinensis Extract," and "Thea sinensis extract."
  • Take any green tea extract natural health product with food and not on an empty stomach.
  • Stop using the product and consult a health care practitioner if you develop any of the following signs, as they may be symptoms of liver trouble: yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, sweating, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual tiredness, or loss of appetite.
  • Report side effects or complaints involving green tea extract products, or any other health product, to Health Canada. These reports are important in helping us to identify and clarify potential safety concerns.

Related Links

  • Health professional communication: Important Safety Information on Green Tea Extract Health Products – Risk of Serious Liver Injury (November 15, 2017)
  • Summary Safety Review – Green tea extract-containing health products – Assessing the potential risk of liver injury (hepatotoxicity)
  • Monograph – Green Tea Extracts

Stay connected with Health Canada and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using social media tools.

To learn more about natural health products and other self-care products, visit Canada.ca/selfcare-products.

Également disponible en français

SOURCE Health Canada

For further information: Media Inquiries: Health Canada, (613) 957-2983; Public Inquiries: (613) 957-2991, 1-866 225-0709

Modal title

Organization Profile

Health Canada

    Also from this source

  • /R E P E A T -- NOTICE TO THE MEDIA - Government of Canada...

  • NOTICE TO THE MEDIA - Government of Canada officials to hold a...

  • Advisory - Shortage of infant formulas for babies with food...

Related Organization(s)

Government of Canada

    Also from this source

  • Statement by the Prime Minister on the results of the general...

  • We'koqma'q First Nation joining Potlotek First Nation in fishing...

  • Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on May...

Contact Cision

  • 877-269-7890
    from 8 AM - 10 PM ET

  • Become a Client
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • General Enquiries
  • Media
  • Worldwide Offices

Products

  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Media Monitoring
  • Content Distribution
  • Multimedia Distribution
  • Measurement & Analytics
  • Investor Relations

About

  • About Cision Canada
  • About Cision
  • Media Partners
  • Careers
  • Accessibility Statement

My Services

  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Centre
  • Next Gen Communications Cloud
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • my CNW

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Centre
  • Next Gen Communications Cloud
  • Cision Communications Cloud
  • my CNW
877-269-7890
from 8 AM - 10 PM ET
  • Terms of Use
  • Information Security Policy
  • Site Map
  • Cookie Settings
  • Accessibility Statement
Copyright © 2022 CNW Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. A Cision company.