Anvisa reinforces ban on ashwagandha supplement in Brazil

The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) has issued an alert to reinforce the prohibition of the dietary supplement ashwagandha within the country. The Asian herb has gained significant popularity on TikTok, where influencers frequently recommend it for relaxation and the relief of perimenopause symptoms.

Anvisa highlighted a critical international case involving a British woman, Lois Kinder, who suffered acute liver failure, cardiac arrest, and severe brain damage after consuming the product. The agency emphasized that ashwagandha is not on the list of authorized ingredients for dietary supplements in Brazil, making its manufacture, sale, distribution, and use strictly prohibited.

Regulatory guidelines state that dietary supplements should only be used to complement the diet of healthy individuals and must not be marketed with claims of curing, treating, or preventing diseases. Anvisa advises that the use of any supplement should be evaluated by qualified health professionals based on individual health conditions.