Background: Acute liver failure resulting from the use of food supplements is rare. However, due to the rapid rise in the use of food supplements, the incidence of liver damage is increasing.
Case description: We describe the cases of two women with menopausal symptoms who developed liver failure shortly after starting to take food supplements containing plant extracts. Both women consequently underwent a liver transplant.
Conclusion: Food supplements are not regarded as medicines, but fall under regulations pertaining to foodstuffs. This means they can be put on the market without their safety having first been checked. The old Dutch saying 'if it doesn't do any good, it won't do any harm' is certainly not applicable here. Is it time for a new law?