Over half of U.S. adults get key health information—particularly related to wellness and holistic medicine—from social media, according to a recent study. Influencers and streaming ads promise all sorts of physical, mental, and emotional health benefits from all sorts of supplements.

As it turns out and not shockingly, some of those herbal and dietary supplements can actually cause serious health problems, namely liver damage, according to Joseph K. Lim, MD, a professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine who specializes in treating liver diseases.

“It’s estimated that 20 percent of drug-induced liver injuries in the U.S. are related to herbal and dietary supplements,” Dr. Lim said.

Turmeric is a great example. The spice contains curcumin, known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and is a popular dietary supplement that promises to help with inflammation/pain/arthritis, cognitive decline, and digestive disorders, among many others. 

While the spice itself is generally regarded as safe, high doses of turmeric/curcumin supplements can cause liver damage. The World Health Organization recommends a daily turmeric dose of 200 mg daily or less for a 150-pound individual. Consuming turmeric/curcumin in dietary sources is unlikely to exceed these limits, but many (dare I say most) supplements on the market or 1,000 mg or greater.

What are the side effects?

Turmeric megadosing—defined as taking a dose that is many times higher than the recommended daily allowance—can cause a range of side effects, including nausea, upset stomach and diarrhea, dizziness, and kidney stones.

Dr. Lim warns that turmeric can lower blood sugar, important to know for diabetics. He adds that women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or being treated for hormone-sensitive cancers should avoid taking turmeric supplements.

What about other supplements?

Turmeric/curcumin is just one example. Other supplements that can cause liver damage when taken at high doses include:

• Vitamin A
• Green tea extract (Camellia sinensis)
• Glutamine
• Ashwagandha
• Garcinia cambogia
• Black cohosh
• Ma huang (Ephedra)
• Kava
• Skullcap
• Red yeast rice

What are the signs of liver damage?

The most common symptoms of liver damage include:

• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin)
• Dark-colored urine (“Coca-Cola” color)
• Swelling in the abdomen or legs/feet (due to increased portal-vein pressure) 
• Pale-colored (or gray- or clay-colored) stool due to lack of bile flow
• Other:  whole-body itching, fatigue, confusion

While many cases of supplement-induced liver injury may resolve with treatment and/or discontinued use, any of these symptoms should prompt you to call your doctor right away as prolonged symptoms may result in life-threatening liver failure.

What should I know about taking supplements?

Vitamins and supplements are regulated as foods, not drugs, meaning the FDA doesn’t evaluate the quality of the supplement or assess its effect on the body before the product is commercialized. This is a problem, but one that is not likely to be solved anytime soon.

Therefore, before starting on a new supplement, talk to your doctor….especially if you have a health condition, are pregnant or lactating, or are taking any prescription meds.

Two other things:  Take only the recommended dose and be very wary of any benefits promised on social media! Thank you to Yale New Haven Health and author Amy Brenner-Fricke for their 9/11/2025 online article titled, “Turmeric and 10 other popular supplements that can damage your liver.”