Health - The return of Kava-kava liver damage?

[bob_arctor]

http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sci...0222111446.htm

ScienceDaily (Feb. 23, 2008) — Scientists have found new evidence, using innovative techniques, to support the growing body of literature that indicates kava may have a negative effect on the liver. Kava is a plant native to the South Pacific that has been used as a ceremonial beverage in the region for thousands of years, and, more recently, as a natural treatment for medical conditions such as anxiety. In recent years, serious concerns about the dangers of kava and the effects on the liver have resulted in regulatory agencies, such as the US Food and Drug Administration and Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration, banning or restricting the sale of kava and kava products.


Originally from Fiji, where kava drinking is common, Professor Iqbal Ramzan, Dean of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney, Australia, had previously published articles on the adverse effects of kava, and wanted to investigate further the effects kava had on the liver.
Leading a team of researchers from the University of Sydney, Professor Ramzan spent one year investigating the cellular effects of kava on the liver. Kava has been used in ceremonies and for recreational and social purposes in the South Pacific since ancient times, much like alcohol, tea or coffee is in other societies today.
In the 1980s other medicinal uses for kava began to emerge and it was marketed in herbal form as a natural way to treat conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, tension and restlessness, particularly in Europe and North America.
More recently, evidence began to emerge about the adverse affect kava could have on the liver.
To test these theories, the University of Sydney study focused on the major kavalactone (the ingredient in kava believed to affect the liver) -- kavain -- and investigated the effects it had on the ultrastructure (or biological structure) of the liver.
This required the use of electron microscopes (which enable the examination of the interior of cells) provided by the Australian Key Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis at the University of Sydney under the direction of its Deputy Director, Professor Filip Braet.
The study found that following kavain treatment the liver tissue displayed an overall change in structure, including the narrowing of blood vessels, the constriction of blood vessel passages and the retraction of the cellular lining.
Interestingly, kavain also adversely affected certain cells which function in the destruction of foreign antigens (such as bacteria and viruses), which make up part of the body's immune system.
In other words, the kavain treatment disturbed the basic structure of the liver, consequently seriously impacting the normal functioning of the liver.
The results of the University of Sydney's study clearly support earlier literature observations on kava's adverse affects on the functioning of the liver in general.
However, additional investigations into the effects of other major kavalactones on the liver, as well as studies on whether the effects of kava are reversible, are urgently needed.
Journal reference: Fu S, Korkmaz E, Braet F, Ngo Q, Ramzan I. Influence of kavain on hepatic ultrastructure. World J Gastroenterol 2008 January 28; 14(4): 541-546 http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/14/541.aps
Adapted from materials provided by World Journal of Gastroenterology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS

[Eden]

Ouch!Thats pretty compelling stuff.This comes at a time that I have been taking Kava by the busload,thinking that I was perfectly safe due to the most"up to date" findings and studies.

[snapper]

It's just one study, and so far populations known for heavy kava use have only shown dermatological effects. SWIM would like to know what doses of kavian caused these changes and how that correlates to the dose normally ingested, as well as what consequences these changes have on function. Sounds like a fishy study to SWIM, perhaps with an agenda ???

[Jatelka]

For those that are interested: The paper that this story refers to has been uploaded to the archive.

See here...

http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/loc...4599&catid=101

People should bear in mind that this is an in vitro study, looking at the effect of a kavain solution on cells in a petri dish. It is not clear how the kavain solution used correlates (if at all) to the likely levels of kavain in kava-kava, or whether the levels/concentrations achieved are representative of an in-vivo situation.

EDIT: Just read the damn thing, and it appear that it wasn't a petri dish but rats that were used.

Still an iffy study though

[bob_arctor]

Well put, Jatelka.

[Paracelsus]

Indeed. One should not forget that the purpose of in vitro studies, animal studies, and pilot studies on humans generally is to gather evidence for larger-scale human trials (e.g. to determine if they can be carried out safely), not to jump to premature conclusions. Sensationalist reporting of said studies often harms this process.

[Thirdedge]

Originally Posted by bob_arctor

http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sci...0222111446.htm

In recent years, serious concerns about the dangers of kava and the effects on the liver have resulted in regulatory agencies, such as the US Food and Drug Administration and Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration, banning or restricting the sale of kava and kava products.

This Kava ban has resulted in Indigenous Australians moving back to abusing hard liquor and meths, substances that will surely be much softer on their liver.

[Eden]

A wise man once told me that if I ever wanted to get to the center of any modern-day controversy simply follow the money trail.Is anything worth doing NOT fraught with greed,lies and deception these days??This kava thing is a recent discovery for me and I have truly been enjoying it.Oh,its this wonderful thing that natives have been doing for centuries.Visions of happy little dark people running arond in reed skirts,singing and laughing joyfully,all the while sipping their kava-kava drinks from half coconut shells well into the warm summer evenings.Now I am learning all the bs that has been going on with prohibition,false studies,big pharma jealousy etc. and it just makes me wanna do more drugs!Geez,sometimes I do think ignorance may truly,in a sense be bliss.

Thankfully I have as of late read study after study that negates these types of findings and am back in the mode of believing that kava does not cause liver damage.

[enquirewithin]

Professor Iqbal Ramzan, Dean of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney, Australia, had previously published articles on the adverse effects of kava, and wanted to investigate further the effects kava had on the liver.

Note the Professor's starting point! Still, kava, in excess may well damage the liver. Alcohol certainly does but that doesn't mean that it is banned (in most countries). What is needed is sensible research, not scaremongering. Also, rats are not people!

[illume.]

Originally Posted by Eden

A wise man once told me that if I ever wanted to get to the center of any modern-day controversy simply follow the money trail.Is anything worth doing NOT fraught with greed,lies and deception these days??This kava thing is a recent discovery for me and I have truly been enjoying it.Oh,its this wonderful thing that natives have been doing for centuries.Visions of happy little dark people running arond in reed skirts,singing and laughing joyfully,all the while sipping their kava-kava drinks from half coconut shells well into the warm summer evenings.Now I am learning all the bs that has been going on with prohibition,false studies,big pharma jealousy etc. and it just makes me wanna do more drugs!Geez,sometimes I do think ignorance may truly,in a sense be bliss.

Thankfully I have as of late read study after study that negates these types of findings and am back in the mode of believing that kava does not cause liver damage.

swim agrees with this. kava, a herb that brings peace and insight MAY be damaging to RAT liver cells so lets ban it. ROFL. alcohol IS damaging to nearly every organ in the body ESPECIALLY THE LIVER. However it is available at nearly every corner. swim thinks that this is further evidence of the powers that be trying to put society to sleep. ie as soon as somthing may help stop some habit or promote free thinking, BAN it under pretence of it being damaging. lol

[Eden]

Well said