A previously “fit and healthy” mother-of-two has suffered brain damage after experiencing acute liver failure believed to be triggered by a widely-used £5 wellness supplement frequently promoted on social media.
Lois Kinder, 44, from Lymm, Warrington in Cheshire, took ashwagandha-based products daily for around a year, including a coffee and two gummy supplements containing the Asian herb touted for promoting relaxation and easing perimenopausal symptoms.
The supplements had become popular on platforms like TikTok, where Lois, who worked as an affiliate marketer, received free samples to promote these products. However, last month she was found unconscious on her settee, following a series of alarming symptoms including jaundice-yellowing of her eyes and skin.
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Paramedics rushed her to hospital where medical staff diagnosed her with acute liver failure. Luckily, a donor organ became available and she underwent a transplant. Unfortunately, complications arose during surgery, resulting in brain damage.
Her husband, Ollie Kinder, 44, was informed by doctors that they strongly suspected the herbal supplement was the cause of her liver failure. The couple had not anticipated the severe consequences, with medical experts noting only around 70 similar cases related to the prolonged use of ashwagandha have been recorded.
Ollie said, “The thought of losing my wife and our children losing their mum at just 44 was unbearable. When doctors asked about ashwagandha pills, we didn’t realise the danger. I want to warn others that even supplements you believe to be safe can have serious health risks.”
Lois had been consumed and promoting various ashwagandha products on TikTok for about 12 months. Ollie explained there was “no end” to the number of pills containing the herb that companies sent her to advertise.
The herb has gained popularity among perimenopausal women for its purported benefits with mood and sleep, but recent clinical research has linked it to liver complications, although the precise cause remains unclear.
In early July, Lois sought medical advice after experiencing sickness and developing jaundice-like symptoms. Her GP ordered blood tests and a liver scan but was not initially concerned. However, her condition sharply worsened, culminating in her daughter finding her unresponsive on 13 July.
She was admitted to Warrington Hospital before being transferred to the specialist Liver Intensive Care Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, a centre capable of urgent liver transplants. Added to the super urgent transplant list, she received a donor liver on 22 July.
During the operation, Lois suffered three cardiac arrests due to a blood clot blocking the main artery to her lungs. She was without oxygen for an extended period, contributing to significant brain injury.
Despite multiple prognoses suggesting she would not survive or might be brain-dead, Lois defied the odds, awakening from an induced coma after a month. She has since shown limited recognition and some movement but remains critically ill and in intensive neurological rehabilitation.
Ollie visits her daily and shared that medical staff intend to publish their case as a rare and complex example of the dangers associated with certain supplements.
While investigations continue, ashwagandha remains the primary suspected cause. It is unclear what Lois’s long-term recovery will look like, with potential lasting disabilities anticipated.
The family have begun crowdfunding to help buy and adapt a home suitable for Lois’s ongoing care, as they face being forced to move from their current rented property.
Ollie expressed gratitude towards supporters and encouraged donations to aid their journey: “Any contribution, big or small, will help give Lois the chance to rebuild her life and help our family face the future together.”
Donations can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lois-story?