Trends in Herbal and Dietary Supplement Use Among U. S. Adults with Chronic Liver Disease

Herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) are used by over 50% of Americans, but commonly their use is not reported to healthcare providers. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of HDS use among patients with Chronic Liver Disease (CLD), with a focus on those using supplements known to cause hepatotoxicity. We accessed 61,951 individuals polled in the NHANES database between 2001-2011, which represented a population size of 1,763,482,931. 573 respondents reported a history of CLD (population size of 19,998,331.655). Of those 573 respondents, 41 respondents (population size 1,399,884) endorsed using HDS that are associated with causing hepatotoxicity, which are listed under the NIH complied master list. Our study demonstrates the need for better counseling of patients on the potential risks of these readily available products.