Tag: Polyphenol overdose

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) determined a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for hydroxytyrosol at 50 mg/kg body weight per day. While generally safe, this powerful antioxidant can indeed be taken in excessive amounts, leading to unwanted effects, especially when supplementing far beyond what is found in a typical olive oil-rich diet.

According to a 2014 report, 20% of drug-related liver injuries were due to herbal and dietary supplements, many of which contain polyphenols. While these plant compounds are beneficial in moderation, understanding what happens if you take too much polyphenol is crucial for avoiding potential health risks, especially from concentrated sources.

While diets rich in plant-based foods have been consistently linked to better health outcomes, this is not true for all plant compounds. High-dose supplements containing concentrated plant compounds, including polyphenols, can lead to adverse health effects. This raises the important question: Can you get too many polyphenols?