In August 2017, a claim was filed by a woman against Herbalife on the basis that their products allegedly gave her liver damage. The claimant alleges that after taking their supplementary products for six years, she has sustained irreversible liver damage and will need to undergo a transplant.
The lawsuit alleges that Herbalife,”never warned her the ingredients can build up to toxic levels.” It continues to assert that, “Herbalife’s description of the products as safe and healthy when used in compliance with Herbalife’s usage guidelines was false.”
Herbalife deny liability
A Herbalife spokesperson has denied the claims, stating:
“…every day millions of consumers safely use our products around the world and no known hepatotoxins have ever been found in our products.”
However, due to the public’s general lack of reporting when it comes to experiencing side-effects, the number of problems including liver damage specifically may be under-reported.
This is something important to consider.
Not the first lawsuit of its kind against Herbalife
A claim was brought against Herbalife some years ago for the same reason. The woman filed her lawsuit against Herbalife with allegations that the nutrition-supplement company’s products gave her chronic liver disease, requiring a transplant.
In seeking a healthier life, the claimant started to take Herbalife supplements in 1998 and even signed on as a Herbalife promoter and distributor. However, after taking the supplements for three years, she started to notice fatigue and weakness. She sought medical advice and discovered that she had serious liver damage.
There are more claims for alleged liver damage on top of the two referenced above.
Herbalife under fire
Multiple sources that reportedly include independent and individual reviews of Herbalife products suggest there may be an ugly side to taking Herbalife supplements. One blog post suggests that a lot of Herbalife products have a high caffeine content. For caffeine enthusiasts, this might not be a problem; but, taken in excess, users can experience:
- High blood pressure;
- Diarrhoea;
- Raised level of anxiety;
- Low-sugar episodes for diabetics.
Heath group Healthfully noted that that some Herbalife products may allegedly contain excessive levels of lead; a toxic and poisonous metal that can be fatal.
Research findings
In 2012, a group of researchers set out to analyse the ingredients used in Herbalife’s products when a number of liver damage cases were being noted in the hospital. Researchers at a university apparently found the bacteria Bacillus subtillis inside Herbalife’s products.
In the published study, doctors discussed two patients who became ill after using the supplements. Both patients reportedly suffered liver inflammation (hepatitis), but recovered when they stopped taking the supplements.
According to Herbalife’s website, they address the commonly asked question, “are there any side effects with Herbalife?” with a simple and resounding “No“.
The company does not see their products as medicine, but rather as just ‘food’.
However, it does acknowledge that the high protein content means users need to drink around 2 litres of water as it is “necessary” to help kidneys process the protein.