Green tea is a great source of natural antioxidants that can be used to reduce calories intake, increase physical activity and the maintenance of overall health. Its main antioxidant, EGCG, can be extracted and be used in natural health products in Canada and can be formulated into a capsule, chewable, liquid, powder, strip or tablet. This can be consumed without causing any bodily harm, but there is a potential risk of liver injury.
In 2006 to 2016, Health Canada received 11 health care cases suspecting that green tea extract may be causing harm to the liver. From the 11 cases, only 2 were concluded to be a potential link between green tea and liver injury, and further research lead to over 89 international cases. From these cases, only 1 patient developed chronic liver fibrosis and 2 required liver transplants. This led to Health Canada’s conclusion that the link between green tea extract causing liver injury is rare and unpredictable, but precautions should be taken.
In 2008, the Health Canada’s Green Tea Extract monograph was updated to say, “If you have a liver disorder, consult a health care practitioner prior to use. Stop use if you develop symptoms of liver trouble such as yellowing of the skin/eyes (jaundice), stomach pain, dark urine, sweating, nausea, unusual tiredness and/or loss of appetite and consult a health care practitioner.” This was further updated in August 2017 to include an age restriction on green extracts products, which currently says that green tea products should be only used by adults 18 years and older, and requested product license holders of natural health products containing green tea extract as a medicinal ingredient intended for children and adolescents to be removed or revise the label.
Nutralab is paying extra attention to green tea-containing formulas by carefully evaluating EGCG contents and safety claims on product label. From raw material sourcing to product formulation, our team of scientists and formulation experts carefully monitor and control every step to ensure that every product is formulated to the most updated FDA and Health Canada requirements. NPN licensed, Kosher or Halal certified products are formulated – from a pre-defined formula or from our formulation specialist – into a capsule, soft gel, chewable, liquid, powder, or tablet. Our cGMP certified facility is carefully designed to provide a one-stop solution to your pharmaceutical needs giving you access to our manufacturing, packaging, warehousing facilities, and a state-of-the-art analytical lab capable of microbiology testing, chemical analysis, and more. We strive on sourcing the finest of ingredients to create the finest of natural health products.
