A New Jersey The father of five warns people not to take plant supplements after being left to fight for his life due to a liver injury which, according to him, was caused by the remedy.
Robert Grafton, 54, had taken several natural supplements in order to improve his health, including one with turmeric.
In early March, the former radiology technologist added something new to his diet – a liquid supplement based on turmeric. He had seen him announced to improve liver health on social networks.
However, a week later, Grafton noticed His urine had become darkHe felt nauseous, lost his appetite and it was constantly itching.
Believing that his deterioration in health was linked to supplements, he stopped consuming them and went to the hospital for fear that he suffers from hepatic insufficiency.
The tests revealed that he had a liver injury induced by drugs, or Dili, which caused liver damage because of his excessive turmeric consumption.
A dili is often caused by any type of medication or supplement that claims to promote muscle growth or reduce stress. These types of supplements often contain similar ingredients that can harm the liver when consumed in excess.
Robert Grafton, 54, a father of five children from New Jersey warns people to take supplements “ based
Grafton said Nbc: “My liver enzymes were super high, my bilirubin (a yellowish pigment produced after the degradation of red blood cells) was really high – all signs of liver insufficiency.
“I am almost broken, my wife too. I thought at that time that it was liver cancer, pancreatic cancer or something.
“It turns out that I had something called a liver injury induced by drugs, which came from my supplements.”
The liver is responsible for many bodily functions, including blood filtering, nutrient transformation and the detoxification of the body of harmful substances, such as alcohol and drugs.
He is also responsible for providing support for the immune system, blood clotting and producing bile, a liquid that helps digest fat and absorbing nutrients.
However, sometimes an excessive consumption of ultra-concentrated supplements, whether natural ingredients or those chemically manufactured, can cause an injury if the liver is not able to filter them effectively out of the body, which made them accumulate in toxic quantities.
Dr. Dina Halegoua-de Marzio, a hepatologist who treated Grafton told NBC: “I think people assume that these things are sure.
“The first reason why we see people taking it for good health or to complete their health and therefore I do not think they realize that there is a real risk here.”
She noted that even if Grafton had stopped taking supplements after noticing that he was sick, an overload of turmeric had already occurred in his body and had caused an injury.
Grafton took turmeric pills which contained 2,250 milligrams of curcumin, a substance from the root of the turmeric plant and black pepper extract.
Although it is not clear which Grafton turmeric supplement has taken, an average tablet of turmeric supplement and curcumin brought to common convenience stores contains 500 mg of spices.
Experts say that daily consumption of less than 2,000 mg of turmeric through supplements is considered safe.
In the photo: Dr Dina Halegoua-de Marzio, a Hepatologist of Health Jefferson who treated Grafton
Although it is not clear which supplement of Turmeric Grafton has taken, an average tablet of turmeric supplement and curcumin contains 500 milligrams of spices
Dr. Halegoua-de Marzio said: “When you cook with turmeric, it could be really sure. But some supplements are now 2000 mg and more, which is a very high dose of turmeric.
“Coupled with black pepper, the liver must now decompose this supplement and it cannot. It could make him really sick.
Many studies have shown that turmeric can improve liver health by reducing inflammation, reducing fat accumulation and detoxifying the organ.
However, other studies suggest that natural supplements made with turmeric can also cause serious liver damage.
A study evaluated by the 2010 peers has shown that more than 40,000 Americans report damage to the liver due to medicines and supplements each year – more than 2,000 of which end up dying due to the severity of their state.
But despite scientific evidence, plant supplements continue to become more popular.
A study of the JAMA 2024 network revealed that turmeric is the most commonly consumed supplement in the United States, followed by green tea extract, Ashwagandha, Garcinia Cambogia, red yeast rice and black cohosh.
The researchers found that 15.6 million Americans take supplements containing at least one of these six plants – mainly without doctor advice.
The Food and Drug Administration considers plant supplements as food supplements and does not regulate them, does not supervise them.
Therefore, it is impossible for consumers to know if they really consume what is announced or if it is safe.
In April 2025, Jenny Ramirez, experienced hepatic insufficiency which she linked to methylsulfonylmmethane (MSM), an ingredient in a common free vitamin that claims to improve the health of hair, skin and nails
Grafton is not the only person to suffer from dili or serious liver damage due to a supplement.
In April 2025, Jenny Ramirez, experienced hepatic insufficiency due to a typically harmless ingredient called methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), which is in free current vitamins that claim to improve the health of hair, skin and nails.
Research revealed that HSH was generally benign and even protective against liver damage.
However, some scientists have said that HSH could exacerbate liver damage in people with preexisting liver disease, although research and data are limited.
However, Ramirez has become yellowed, with yellowing skin and eyes. She also had to undergo surgery to withdraw her gallbladder due to hard deposits that were built there, blocking the flow of bile through the liver and gallbladder.
And in 2023, a 45 -year -old woman proved to be suffering from liver damage induced by plant supplements after complaining of gastric pain and nausea to consume a herbal tea for three days to improve immunity.
More than 40,000 Americans report liver damage due to medicines and supplements each year
The respondent doctors noted that she did not show any signs of jaundice, had an unkindled abdomen and showed signs of hepatic infection such as hepatitis A.
But after a series of tests and exams, they found that the presence of Reishi mushrooms, Aloe Vera and Siberian ginseng – all natural herbs – had caused pain.
As for Grafton, after discovering that he had a liver injury, Grafton said that his blood analyzes had returned to normal in the weeks following the sale of supplements.
Additional tests have not revealed any permanent damage to his liver.
He said: “ All the push with this is that you get a super high and concentrated dose of turmeric and pool root and milk thistle, which I have always known from my medical past is good for the health of the liver.
“Everything was good, I thought I had done enough excavations.
Because on his experience, he added: “I don’t take any supplement.”
