Jenny Ramirez, a mother of four from Fort Worth, Texas, thought she was making a healthy choice when she picked up an over-the-counter supplement to support her hair, skin, and nail health. Instead, she landed in the hospital with a diagnosis that shocked her — liver failure.
Just weeks after beginning the supplement in late February, she began experiencing symptoms she couldn’t ignore — yellowing eyes, fatigue, and nausea, according to Daily Mail. Alarmed, she sought medical help, only to discover that her liver was shutting down.
Her doctors eventually traced the cause to an ingredient in the supplement — methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) — a compound often used in hair and nail vitamins, generally considered safe in moderate amounts.
But according to Dr Manisha Arora, Director – Internal Medicine at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, even widely available supplements can pose risks if used without proper oversight. “While multivitamins are often perceived as safe and beneficial, excessive and unsupervised intake can lead to serious health consequences, including organ failure,” she cautioned.
Even vitamins we consider essential can become dangerous when taken in excess (Source: Freepik)
The liver is especially vulnerable, Dr Arora said, because it’s the body’s central hub for detoxifying substances. “The liver plays a central role in metabolising these substances. High doses taken repeatedly over weeks or months can overwhelm the liver’s capacity to detoxify, potentially leading to inflammation, scarring, or even liver failure.”
Even vitamins we consider essential can become dangerous when taken in excess. “Excessive intake of vitamin A can cause liver inflammation and even liver failure,” she said. “High doses of vitamin D or niacin have also been linked to liver toxicity, and iron overload from supplements can cause liver scarring.”
In Jenny’s case, her rapid decline was linked to MSM, a sulfur-containing compound marketed for joint and skin health. Though it’s typically well-tolerated, in rare cases, it can trigger idiosyncratic liver injury, especially when consumed in combination with other vitamins or pre-existing conditions.
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Dr Arora further explained, “Self-supplementation without proper medical advice can mask underlying health issues and delay accurate diagnosis and treatment. This underscores the importance of using supplements only under medical supervision and in alignment with recommended dietary allowances.”
This is a stark reminder that more is not always better. The pursuit of wellness, when uninformed, can have unintended and dangerous consequences.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.