January 15, 2002 – The French Agency for the Safety of Health Products (AFSSAPS) has just suspended the marketing of products made from kava kava.1 This decision was made after 30 cases of hepatitis or liver failure were reported in Germany and Switzerland relating to the ingestion of kava resulting in death and four liver transplants. France followed Switzerland which banned kava last week. Germany plans to do so soon and a voluntary product recall has been carried out in Britain. North America is also on the alert: Health Canada and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are currently reviewing the matter.
Kava, from Polynesia and mainly marketed in capsule form, is highly prized for its relaxing and sedative properties. The relationship between the ingestion of kava and its increased toxicity to the liver which can lead to damage has recently been established. Side effects such as numbness, nausea and difficulty breathing have also been noted.
Excessive dosage seems to be one of the causes of the aforementioned liver problems since three of the four people who had a transplant had exceeded the recommended daily dose (60 to 120 mg). Additionally, a genetic defect preventing kava from metabolizing properly has been cited. Other interpretations suggest a possible contamination of certain products or a reduced quality of production due to the increase in demand for kava due to its high popularity. A greater number of people using drugs could also be responsible for the appearance of lesions that the rarity made invisible previously.2
Élisabeth Mercader – PasseportSanté.net
According to Richter NewsLetter, November 30, 2001 and National Post, January 10, 2002
1. French Agency for the Safety of Health Products. Kawa and liver damage. [Consulté le 11 janvier 2002]. http://agmed.sante.gouv.fr/htm/10/filcoprs/indco.htm
2. Healthnotes. Kava, used traditionally and widely considered safe, is surprisingly linked to liver damage. [Consulté le 11 janvier 2002]. http://www.healthnotes.com/online/newswire_2001_12_13_1.htm
