Jenny Ramirez never considered that the vitamin she was taking to boost her hair, skin, and nails could be the culprit behind her devastating health crisis.

The mother of four had been on her weight loss journey for months, seeing positive results, but some negative ones as well. Among them was hair loss, which can occur as a result of nutrient or protein deficiencies.

So, Ms Ramirez of Fort Worth, Texas, began taking a common over-the-counter vitamin that claimed to improve hair, skin and nail health.

However, soon after beginning the vitamins in late February, she began noticing yellowing of her eyes and skin.  

Her doctors discovered she was experiencing liver failure, which her gastroenterologist attributed to a typically innocuous ingredient called methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in her vitamin. 

Research has found MSM to be generally benign and even protect against liver damage.

Some scientists have said, however, that MSM could exacerbate liver damage in people with pre-existing liver disease, but no cases of this have been reported.

Still, Ms Ramirez has become jaundiced, with yellowing skin and eyes. She has also undergone surgery to remove her gallbladder because of hard deposits that had built up there, blocking the flow of bile through the liver and gallbladder. 

Ms Ramirez of Fort Worth, Texas is experiencing liver failure, which her gastroenterologist attributed to a typically innocuous ingredient called methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in her hair growth supplement

The gallbladder stores and releases the digestive fluid produced by the liver. But doctors may have to remove it if hard deposits form there, blocking the flow of bile from the liver and gallbladder.

Ms Ramirez did not say how her doctor concluded that MSM was the culprit, though supplements, which are not regulated by the FDA, can be contaminated along the production line or come in dosages that are far higher than recommended.

Ms Ramirez warned her TikTok followers of the risk of taking the supplement, which was made and sold by a [popular drugstore, from her hospital bed. 

She said: ‘They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me, apart from needing my gallbladder removed.

‘They thought I had hepatitis, and [the tests] were all negative, negative, negative, negative. They’re like, have you started any new medicine, I’m like, no. [They asked] Have you started a new multivitamin or any vitamins?’

She explained that as she has shed pounds, she has taken more supplements to stay strong and replenish any vitamin deficiencies from changing her diet. 

Among them was a supplement designed to strengthen the protein in hair and nails, boost collagen, and increase levels of minerals like zinc and vitamin E.

She said: ‘It didn’t click to me to be like, oh, I started a hair, nails [vitamin]. So today, my GI doctor came in. He’s like have you started a hair growth vitamin? And I’m like, yeah.’

The doctor told her that she ‘induced liver failure.’

‘Be very careful doing these vitamins, these supplements,’ she added.

Ms Ramirez had to have her gallbladder removed as a result of severe damage to her liver, which processes digestive fluids

Doctors first believed she may have hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver. Many diagnostic tests showed nothing abnormal. But her gastroenterologist floated the idea that MSM could be the culprit behind her jaundiced skin and eyes

Her case is seemingly rare as there are no similar instances recorded in humans or mice in the medical literature.

She wrote on her GoFundMe page: ‘I would never think I would be in this spot in a million years.’

Ms Ramirez said she had taken the CVS brand supplement. It contains 0.1 grams of MSM, a very low dose considering the recommended dose is between one and six grams per day 

A 2018 study in rats found MSM protected them from liver damage due to high doses of acetaminophen, marketed as Tylenol. 

Another study in rats found that a high dose of MSM, about five grams per kilogram in rats, did not cause liver toxicity.

Trials in humans yielded similar results, with a 2006 study finding no toxic effects on the liver in people taking six grams per day of MSM for three months.

And another published in the journal Nutrients found that the substance was ‘well tolerated’ in people with arthritis, adding that ‘Emerging research suggests that MSM may one day aid in the treatment of various types of cancer.’

However, MSM can prove harmful in very high doses.

A 2013 study in Springer Nature demonstrated that while animals administered standard human-equivalent doses showed beneficial effects on knee cartilage health, those receiving doses 100-fold higher exhibited atrophy of multiple organs, including the liver and spleen.

The typical safe range is one gram to four grams per day, according to the NIH.

The dosage in the supplement Ms Ramirez was taking was labeled 100 micrograms, or 0.1 grams, which has not been shown to pose risks to humans.

Several doctors have pointed to other compounds in some hair, skin, and nail supplements that may cause damage.

Other popular hair growth supplements may contain ingredients Dr Supriya Joshi, a liver disease specialist in Toronto, advises against.

These include ashwagandha and turmeric, ‘often because of impurities, mega-dosing, and interactions between each other and prescription drugs you might be taking.’

Ms Ramirez warned her 12,600 TikTok followers of the risk of taking the supplement, which was made by CVS’ proprietary brand, from her hospital bed

She said: ‘The most common ones that affect liver health and can even cause liver failure include turmeric or curcumins, green tea extract, ashwagandha, red yeast rice, and black cohosh.

‘So if you’re looking for supplements to enhance your health, understand first, why are you taking them and could you make a lifestyle change that could improve your health? And secondly, what the dose is, what you’re taking, and tell your healthcare providers.’

Many supplements and vitamins aren’t regulated by the FDA, so it is hard to know if you are getting what is advertised on a supplement’s packaging.

Additionally, the lack of oversight means manufacturers can include substances not declared on the label, and some could interact with medication.

The federal agency only gets involved when a product has been shown to cause harm, though it does inspect facilities where supplements are made.