A recently published medical case report claims a patient developed acute liver failure after taking Provitalize, a natural menopause supplement. While such a report may raise understandable concern, the purpose of this article is to provide factual context, clarify the safety profile of Provitalize’s ingredients, and outline our regulatory position in response to this report.
The article presents a single case of liver injury and suggests a potential link to Provitalize. However:
Here’s a breakdown of the supplement’s formula (per 2-capsule serving):
Ingredient | Amount | Known Safety Profile |
---|---|---|
Proprietary Synbiotic Blend | 400 mg | L. gasseri, B. breve, B. lactis with FOS prebiotics—Prebiotics are classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the FDA while the probiotic strains have passed genomic safety evaluation. |
Turmeric Root Extract | 350 mg | The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends up to 1.5–3 g/day while clinical studies support up to 8 g/day. |
Moringa Leaf Extract | 350 mg | No adverse effects in human trials. Amount in this product well under doses shown to be safe and well-tolerated (approximately 140,000 mg per day) |
Curry Leaf (Helichrysum) | 150 mg | No evidence of liver toxicity in clinical literature. Well under the amount commonly used as a cooking spice (500-1000 mg per meal) |
Sunflower-Derived Lecithin | 50 mg | Common food additive found in many products such as chocolate bars, candies, pastries, and vegan products. Classified as GRAS by the FDA. |
Black Pepper Fruit Extract (BioPerine®) | 3 mg | Patented ingredient and self-affirmed as GRAS in the US with no known objections received from FDA to date. Amounts in product are below that which are frequently used in the global food/supplement supply (5-10 mg) |
Turmeric is a bright yellow spice commonly used in curry dishes, and its active ingredient, curcumin, is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Many people consume foods containing turmeric daily or take turmeric supplements to support healthy joints and general wellness.
The report speculates turmeric (Curcuma longa) might be responsible for the adverse outcome. Here's what research tells us about turmeric's safety:
Mild side effects such as nausea or abdominal discomfort have been observed in rare cases, but severe liver damage (direct hepatoxicity) has not been established as causally related to turmeric’s inherent safety profile.
In very rare cases, a consumer may have a pre-existing genetic predisposition to react to a particular substance (similar to how food allergies are unique to the individual and not an indication that a food is unsafe).
Unlike a food allergy, however, these particular types of hypersensitivity reactions can present the same way as certain types of liver toxicity. Turmeric, for example, may be associated with this type of reaction in individuals carrying the HLA-B*35:01 gene.
Again, this is not typically associated with the ingredient’s safety and quality. It is unique to the individual’s rare genetically-related sensitivity to a specific ingredient and can occur with the consumption of very low amounts of an ingredient.
Unfortunately, the authors of the published case report associated with Provitalize, did not mention that genetic profiling for HLA-B*35:01 was performed as a diagnostic tool.
Therefore, it is possible that the consumer had this unique sensitivity and her reaction was not related to the general safety of turmeric or other ingredients in Provitalize.
The probiotic strains in Provitalize—Lactobacillus gasseri, Bifidobacterium breve, and B. animalis subsp. lactis—are:
We maintain rigorous safety oversight at every stage of product development and post-market activity:
If a serious adverse event were ever received by our representatives, it would be immediately reported to the FDA or other authorities in compliance with current global regulatory obligations.
Provitalize has been used by millions of customers worldwide, many of whom share their feedback publicly. On Trustpilot, BBCo has earned a 4.5+ star average rating across hundreds of verified reviews.
💬 "I feel more energized, my hot flashes are gone, and I haven’t had any side effects."
💬 "It really helped with my gut health and bloating. I love this product!"
Importantly, there is no pattern of serious adverse events, such as liver-related complaints, among verified reviews—further supporting the product’s real-world safety record.
You might wonder how to interpret this case report on PubMed. Let's explore what this means in context.
PubMed is a respected scientific database managed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. As the world's leading biomedical literature repository, it hosts millions of peer-reviewed scientific articles from prestigious journals worldwide.
While PubMed maintains high standards for indexed journals, individual articles can vary in their level of evidence:
The article discussing Provitalize is a case report - an important type of medical publication that documents individual clinical observations. While valuable for identifying potential areas for further research, case reports have specific limitations:
In this particular case report, the authors note a possible connection with turmeric, while acknowledging:
Scientific understanding develops through multiple studies and various types of evidence. While this case report contributes to the scientific discussion, it represents just one piece of a larger picture.
Good science requires both preliminary observations and comprehensive research to establish reliable conclusions.
This is why regulatory bodies consider multiple sources of evidence when evaluating product safety, including clinical trials, population studies, and post-market surveillance data.
The case report offers a potential association between Provitalize and liver injury, without presenting definitive causal evidence. Our position is supported by:
Most importantly, before taking any new dietary supplement it is recommended to consult with your health care provider if you have any medical conditions, take medications (including over-the-counter products), or other dietary supplements.
If you or someone you know experiences symptoms while taking any supplement:
We treat every concern with seriousness and are committed to ensuring the health and trust of our customers.
If you have further questions, reach out to our Customer Service Team at contact@thebbco.com.
A single case report has suggested a potential link between Provitalize and liver failure; however, this claim lacks scientific rigor and definitive causal evidence. The report relies on extrapolations that fail to establish a clear connection to the observed symptoms. Importantly, our company has received no other liver-related incident reports, despite maintaining rigorous post-market surveillance. Furthermore, millions of customers worldwide use the product safely, with no pattern of adverse events in our extensive user base. Provitalize has been in the global marketplace for 7 years and is consumed by approximately 500,000 consumers annually. This substantial real-world evidence strongly contradicts the isolated case report's speculative claims.
All ingredients in Provitalize have strong safety profiles:
Provitalize follows strict quality control measures:
While PubMed is a respected scientific database, individual publications like case reports have limitations:
Written by: The BBCo Team
Last Updated: 06 Aug 2025
Dr. Kristy Appelhans is a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor and clinical safety expert with 17+ years of experience in nutrition science, regulatory affairs, and functional medicine. She helps health brands ensure product safety and compliance through evidence-based strategies. Kristy’s mission is to bridge natural medicine and regulatory science to support safer, smarter wellness solutions.