NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Large doses of dietary supplements containing green tea extract may be associated with liver damage, according to a new study by the European Food Safety Authority.
The tea, which is based in Parma, Italy, says green tea, used to make tea, is still safe and safe tea remains safe if it contains lower levels of antioxidants found naturally in green tea.
A large amount of antioxidants may be harmful, so the amount involved in the composition of supplements can have a detrimental effect on the liver, the FDA said.
Most food supplements contain between 5 and 1,000 milligrams, while the tea used to prepare the drink usually contains between 90 and 300 milligrams, the agency, which oversees food safety in the European Union, said.
The researchers noted that eating more than 800 milligrams a day increases health risks, although FDA experts have not yet been able to determine a dose of supplements that can be considered safe.
But eating large amounts of green tea is not associated with liver damage because it contains a lower concentration of antioxidants.
