A popular health supplement is being investigated by food officials over concerns it may damage the thyroid and liver.
The product, ashwagandha, is a herb found in India and the Middle East that has long been used in folk medicine there.
It has gained increasing popularity in Britain over the past decade due to claims that it can reduce anxiety and improve quality of sleep.
Famous takers include Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez and Meghan Markle.
It is often sold in tablets, gummies and water-soluble powder, which are regularly promoted by social media influencers on TikTok and Instagram.
A bottle of ashwagandha gummies. The popular health supplement is being investigated by food officials over concerns it may harm the liver and thyroid.
Among famous takers of the drug include the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle
However, last month the Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced it was gathering evidence on the safety of taking ashwagandha.
The FSA said that, in the UK, ‘there are no safe levels established or set limits’ of how much ashwagandha can be used in supplements.
It said that the supplement had been linked with ‘thyroid toxicity’ and ‘potential liver toxicity’.
The FSA added that ashwagandha may also impact ‘thyroid hormone levels’ as well having ‘hypoglycaemic effects’ – meaning it could cause blood sugar levels to drop.
The FSA has called on experts and companies that sell ashwaganda to provide any evidence they have on the safety of the supplement.
Ashwagandha roots and powder. The drug has gained in popularity due to claims it can reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality
London-based nutritionist Elizabeth Montgomery said: ‘As with any supplement that you’re taking, people have to be cautious. Ashwagandha has been used for thousands of years and it has been shown to help with stress.
‘But taking too much can also have a negative effect on your body and cause several issues.
‘That’s why it’s important we have an upper limit of what can be added to supplements.
‘They need to be properly regulated because people don’t understand how they work, particularly when they’re being combined.’