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How real is green tea extract liver injury, and what does Reviralis list?
Green tea extract liver injury is uncommon but has been reported, mainly with extract capsules. On the Reviralis Complete label, green tea leaf extract is the 4th of 18 names in a 661 mg blend, so it holds at most 165.3 mg per serving of two capsules. The label does not print the real amount or the EGCG content.
Written by the Goreviralis label deskUpdated · 5 min read
The risk01
Can green tea extract cause liver injury?
Rarely, but yes. NIH's complementary health center says green tea extract supplements have been linked to liver injury, and that caffeine content varies (NCCIH, Green Tea).
Another source calls the injury uncommon and says it was reported mainly with extracts in capsules, not with brewed tea. It adds that 5 to 15 percent of Americans carry a gene variant that may raise the risk (NCCIH, Green Tea).
So the picture is a low chance with a serious outcome. That is the kind of risk a person with liver trouble, or who takes many medicines, should hear about from a clinician before buying.
The doses02
What EGCG dose has been linked to raised liver enzymes?
EGCG at 800 mg a day went along with raised liver enzymes in the studies Memorial Sloan Kettering describes (MSK About Herbs, Green Tea). EGCG is the main active compound in green tea extract.
Reviralis does not print its EGCG. It prints only a name, green tea leaf extract, 4th in a 661 mg blend. US rules list blend members from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36). Four names share the top of the total, so the fourth is at most 661 divided by 4, which is 165.25 mg of whole extract. EGCG would be only part of that.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| EGCG level tied to raised liver enzymes | 800 mg a day |
| Reviralis, most extract per serving | 165.3 mg |
| EGCG share of that | Not printed |
| People with the susceptible gene variant | 5 to 15 percent of Americans |
The ceiling is well under 800 mg, but that does not clear the product. It only shows the label cannot reach the studied level through this name alone.
Timing03
Should green tea extract be taken on an empty stomach?
The sources point the other way. Memorial Sloan Kettering advises taking extracts with food and avoiding them with liver problems (MSK About Herbs, Green Tea).
The Reviralis label says to take two capsules daily with an 8 oz glass of water, 20 to 30 minutes before a meal, or as directed by your healthcare professional. That is a different timing from the food advice. We follow the label on this site, and we flag the gap so you can ask. Do not change how you take it without asking a pharmacist, because the label's own phrase is "as directed by your healthcare professional."
The same earlier source says green tea extract can lower blood levels of nadolol and atorvastatin (NCCIH, Green Tea). If you take a beta blocker or a statin, put that on your list.
Reviralis: from $49 a bottle60 capsules a bottle · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 and 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsBefore you buy04
Who should check with a clinician first?
Anyone with a liver condition, anyone on prescription medicine, and anyone pregnant or nursing. The label's caution covers all three, and the label also says not for anyone under 18.
Does green tea extract matter with my statin or heart medicine? Would you like to see my recent liver tests first? Is a blend that hides the amounts a fair risk for me?
Keep your plan05
Does green tea extract help with herpes?
We found no source that says so. The sales page talks about outbreaks and flare-ups, but the label never mentions herpes.
Herpes simplex virus has no cure. Prescription antivirals such as acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are the proven care, and a clinician chooses between them (CDC, STI Treatment Guidelines: Herpes). Keep taking any prescribed antiviral. See a clinician for a diagnosis, since other conditions look like herpes. Call 911 for trouble breathing, a seizure, chest pain, swelling of the face or throat, or sudden confusion with a severe headache and stiff neck.
Related: the bacopa post and the licorice post. See the side effects page and the ingredients page for more.
FAQ06
Reviralis questions people ask
How much green tea extract is in Reviralis?
The label does not print it. Green tea leaf extract is 4th of 18 names in a 661 mg blend, so it holds at most 165.3 mg per two-capsule serving. The EGCG share is not printed either, and no lab report is published.
What is EGCG?
EGCG is the main active compound in green tea. Doses of 800 mg a day have gone along with raised liver enzymes in the reports Memorial Sloan Kettering describes. Reviralis does not print its EGCG, so the amount per serving is unknown.
Does green tea extract interact with medicines?
It can lower blood levels of nadolol and atorvastatin, according to one source. Tell a pharmacist about every medicine, including statins and beta blockers, before using any green tea extract capsule.
Is brewed green tea as risky as extract capsules?
The source we read says the injury was reported mainly with extracts in capsules. Brewed tea is a different, lower-dose product. We make no claim about how much tea is fine for you, so ask a clinician if you have liver disease.
Who wrote this07
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, CDC, FDA, FTC, Mayo Clinic and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. stocking partner for Reviralis. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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