When liver doctor Lisa Forman, MD, said in a social media video that she would never take ashwagandha, a supplement growing in popularity in the United States, curiosity sparked for many viewers.
On social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, proponents of ashwagandha claim that the supplement — which comes in many forms, from liquid drops, to tablets, to gummies — enhances people’s lives by improving sleep, decreasing anxiety, reducing fatigue and pain, promoting muscle growth, and so on.
But Forman, a hepatologist in the University of Colorado Department of Medicine, has seen many cases of liver injury associated with ashwagandha and there is data that shows a possible association between consumption of ashwagandha and liver damage in some people. It’s one of the reasons she cautions people to check with their primary care doctor before taking supplements.
“I’m not anti-supplement, but use of supplements is increasing and people need to be aware that all supplements have the potential for liver injury,” says Forman, a professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. “The main issue is that supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so there is no requirement to purport any claims on safety or efficacy.”
We recently spoke with Forman about what is known — and what isn’t known — about ashwagandha, and her advice when it comes to navigating the world of supplements in a digital age where there are endless advertisements for products that promise to improve people’s health.
The following interview has been edited and condensed.