U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements
April 4, 2001
Letter to Health Professionals Regarding Safety Concerns Related to the Use of
Botanical Products Containing Aristolochic Acid
Dear Health Professional Colleague:
We would like to bring to your attention important safety information about botanical products containing aristolochic
acid, which are sold as dietary supplements and "traditional herbal medicines." We urge you to review your cases of
unexplained renal disease, particularly interstitial fibrosis associated with end-stage renal disease, as well as cases
of urothelial tract tumors, in order to determine the use of dietary supplements or "traditional medicines" in these
patients.
On May 31, 2000, the FDA issued a letter to health care professionals concerning the nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity
of botanical products containing aristolochic acid. During this time period, FDA also issued a letter to
representatives of the dietary supplement trade associations urging that their members review their manufacturing
procedures to ensure that botanical products are free of aristoclochic acid. In addition, FDA issued an import alert
providing for the detention of any botanical ingredients that were either labeled as containing the plant
Aristolochia or may be confused with it. These actions were the result of several factors, including:
- In Belgium, there have been approximately 100 cases of renal disease in patients who had participated in a "slimming
regimen" from 1990-1992 consisting, in part, of a weight-reducing pill containing powdered herbs. The major pathological
lesion consisted of extensive renal interstitial fibrosis with atrophy and loss of tubules. At least 70 of these patients
have required either dialysis or transplantation. It was concluded that one of the botanicals (Stephania tetrandra)
had been inadvertently substituted with Aristolochia fangchi, a botanical known to contain aristolochic acid,
because of the close similarity of the Chinese names.
- In 1996, it was reported that aristolochic acid-related DNA adducts had been detected in renal tissue from 5 of the
original Belgian patients. (Schmeiser HH et al. Detection of DNA adducts formed by aristolochic acid in renal tissue
from patients with Chinese herbs nephropathy. Cancer Res 1996;56:2025-8)
- In August 1999, 2 new cases of interstitial fibrosis were reported from the UK in which the patients had consumed
botanical preparations containing aristolochic acid. Both patients have developed end-stage renal failure; one has already
been transplanted and the other is awaiting transplant. (Lord GM et al. Nephropathy caused by Chinese herbs in the UK.
Lancet 1999;354:481-2)
Since this time, the following new information is available:
- A study conducted in Belgium reported that among 39 patients with end-stage renal failure from the original Belgian
cohort, who had agreed to undergo prophylactic surgery, there were 18 cases (46%) of urothelial carcinoma. All
tissue samples analyzed contained aristolochic acid-related DNA adducts. The authors concluded that "our data suggest
that aristolochia toxins (aristolochic acids and also possibly other derivatives) cause renal disease and urothelial
cancer."[Nortier JL et al. Urothelial carcinoma associated with the use of a Chinese herb (Aristolochia fangchi).
N Engl J Med 2000;342:1686-92]
- Seven cases similar to the Belgian cases were identified in France, corresponding to exposure to botanical preparations
contaminated with Aristolochia fangchi from 1989-1992. In May 2000, a case of urothelial carcinoma was diagnosed
in one of these patients. A second case of urothelial carcinoma is suspected and in a third patient, lymphoma on a graft
was detected. (Communication from the French Medical Products Safety Agency; October 27, 2000)
- Laboratory analyses by the FDA of certain botanical products sold in the United States have revealed the presence of
aristolochic acid. These include single-ingredient products labeled as Aristolochia (sometimes called Virginia
snakeroot) and botanicals that are likely to be substituted with Aristolochia (e.g., Stephania tetrandra,
Clematis armandii, and Akebia extract). In addition, aristolochic acid was detected in several finished products
sold as dietary supplements. Warning letters and requests for recalls have been issued to the various manufacturers or
distributors involved.
- Two patients in the U.S. have been recently reported who developed end-stage renal disease in association with the use of
botanical preparations containing aristolochic acid.
- The first patient began using herbal "medicines" in 1994. She progressed to end-stage renal disease within 8 months. A
renal biopsy showed extensive interstitial fibrosis with focal lymphocytic infiltration. A renal transplant was performed
in 1996. Laboratory analyses of the patient's botanical products, conducted in Belgium, indicated the presence of
aristolochic acid in 2 of the products that she had been using. (Meyer MM et al. Chinese herb nephropathy. Baylor Univ
Med Center Proc 2000;13:334-7. See
http://www.baylorhealth.com/proceedings/13_4/13_4_meyer.htm)
- The second patient had consumed a botanical product called "Stephania tablets" for approximately 2 years, until 1994. She
was recently diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and is awaiting a renal transplant. Laboratory analysis by the
California Department of Health Services showed the botanical product to contain aristolochic acid. Although the product
was labeled as containing the herb Stephania tetrandra, it is likely that Aristolochia fangchi had been
substituted for it, thereby accounting for the presence of aristolochic acid in the product.
[See the
California Department of Health Services News Release - Warning About
Herbal Product (link coming soon).]
We bring to your attention the association of end-stage nephropathy due to exposure to aristolochic acid and the risk of
the development of malignancies, particularly urothelial carcinoma. Cases of renal disease or malignancies associated with
the use of botanical preparations should be reported as soon as possible to FDA's MedWatch program by telephone
(1-800-332-1088) or internet (http://www.fda.gov/medwatch).
Thank you for your efforts and cooperation in addressing this potentially serious public health issue. For additional
information, see http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-bot.html.
Sincerely,
Christine J. Lewis, Ph.D.
Director
Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
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Consolidated Information on Aristolochic Acids:
FDA Concerned About Botanical Products,
Including Dietary Supplements, Containing Aristolochic Acid
This document was issued on April 4, 2001.
For more recent information on Dietary Supplements
See
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/supplmnt.html
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