Dietary supplements linked to 2 deaths, over 100 hospitalizations in Japan

Two individuals lost their lives, and over 100 were hospitalized in Japan after consuming a dietary supplement designed to lower cholesterol levels. Authorities have since called to remove three Beni Koji products from the market. An investigation is in progress.

The Japanese government disclosed on Wednesday that the deaths of two people and the hospitalization of 106 others were associated with the use of cholesterol-lowering dietary supplements - as reported by the Chinese outlet The South China Morning Post. The products under scrutiny are available over the counter and manufactured by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, based in Osaka, which includes Beni Koji or red yeast rice as its ingredients.

According to "The Japan Times," the manufacturer indicated that one of the individuals who passed away had been using the product for approximately three years, starting from April 2021, and succumbed to kidney disease. Further details regarding the second fatality are expected to be released on Wednesday. The link between these deaths and Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's consumption of products continues to be investigated.

Following food hygiene law, the Japanese Ministry of Health has directed local authorities in Osaka to mandate the company withdraw three products. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical voluntarily complied with this request on Friday, removing the Beni Koji products from the market.

Medical research has pointed out red yeast rice as an alternative to statins, medications prescribed to reduce high cholesterol levels. However, according to The South China Morning Post, there is a warning about the potential risk of organ damage, which hinges on the chemical makeup of the products.

The Guardian, citing AFP, noted that a toxin known as citrinin, which can lead to kidney damage, might be produced during fermentation. Nevertheless, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has declared that their analysis of the supplements found no trace of citrinin.

Source: The South China Morning Post, The Japan Times, The Guardian