<b>CERC seeks total ban on liver tonics

CERC seeks total ban on liver tonics Thursday, June 28, 2001

By A Staff Reporter, The Times of India News Service
AHMEDABAD, June 27: Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), Ahmedabad, has called upon the Drug Controller General of India, Dr Ashwini Kumar, to impose a total ban on liver preparations as they were unsafe in any composition and had no justification in therapy.

In fact, CERC said in a representation that the continued use of the mammalian liver extract posed "a serious risk of transmitting infections from animals to human, like the mad cow disease BSE."

It pointed out that in the Indian market there were now several liver preparations available, in combination with vitamins like B12, folic acid and minerals including iron and zinc.

Vitamin B12 is a dietary essential for growth and good health, like other vitamins which are obtained from food or pills as they cannot usually be produced by the body. Liver preparations have no place in modern therapy. They are unsafe and irrational, the letter said.

Tracing the background of the use of mammalian liver preparations, CERC said these were prescribed before the development of folic acid and vitamin B12 in pure form. Since then, there is no mention of any liver preparation in any pharmocoepia or any standard medical text book. Liver preparations were official in BP 1948, USP XV, and IP, 1966.

CERC debunked the argument that liver extract helps in absorption of Vitamin B12 etc., by pointing out that folic acid and Vitamin B12 were available in pure form for injection or oral administration, and therefore liver preparations have become outdated.

CERC said since liver preparations carried more risks than benefits, they should be banned outright. In the interest of consumer health, their use may be banned under section 26A of the Drugs and cosmetics Act, 1940, CERC added.
News Source : Times Of India News Service [ Lightning News ]

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