Bodybuilding and dietary supplements linked to liver damage, says study

A new study has linked liver damage with dietary and bodybuilding supplements.

A review of national health data found that approximately 18 percent of liver injuries in the United States are caused by various forms of supplements mostly for weight-loss and increasing muscle mass.

The new data has officials concerned about the use of such over-the-counter products.

"The number of cases in our network has increased over the years," said Jose Serrano of the National Institutes of Health, according to WebMd.

"There were no deaths, but 7 percent of patients needed a liver transplant. These are not trivial consequences."

Read more on GlobalPost: It is not about what you eat but when you eat, study says

The review linked bodybuilding to 34 percent of liver problems with weight-loss supplements linked to 26 percent of the 93 cases examined, reported WebMd.

The study does not claim to make causal relations between liver damage and the use of the supplements but urges further research on the link between them.

HealthDay reported that up to 40 percent of people in the United States use related supplements.

The study may provide further impetus to regulate a largely unregulated industry.