Info Re: kombucha, from Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center website http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69274.cfm

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Kombucha

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Consumer

How It Works

Purported Uses

Research Evidence

Warnings

Do Not Take If

Side Effects

Common Name

Clinical Summary

Purported uses

Constituents

Mechanism of Action

Warnings

Contraindications

Adverse Reactions

Herb-Drug Interactions

Literature Summary and Critique

References

How It WorksBottom Line: Kombucha tea has not been shown to be beneficial to

humans. The process of fermenting Kombucha tea encourages contamination and

serious adverse effects have been reported. Contaminated Kombucha tea can be

especially dangerous for people with impaired immune systems including many

patients with cancer or AIDS.

Not a fungus, the Kombucha " mushroom " is a symbiotic culture of yeasts and

bacteria that grows inside a semi-permeable membrane. Kombucha tea is prepared

by fermenting sweetened black tea with Kombucha for seven to ten days. Kombucha

tea, a slightly carbonated and acidic drink, has been used to treat a wide

variety of symptoms and diseases. Kombucha tea has high levels of caffeine,

sugar and B vitamins which may account for some of its purported benefits.

Kombucha has been shown to have wide antibiotic and antioxidant effects in

animals; however few benefits have been shown in humans. Allergic reaction and

sever adverse reactions due to contamination have been reported.

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Purported Uses

To treat acne

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To treat anxiety

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To treat atherosclerosis (the formation of plaque on the arteries)

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To treat cancer

Animal studies have shown Kombucha to have antioxidant effects; however no

studies support this use in humans.

To treat constipation

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To treat diabetes

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To treat fatigue

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To treat gallbladder disease

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To treat headaches

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To maintain overall health

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To treat hemorrhoids

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To treat AIDS

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To lower blood pressure

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To stimulate the immune system

Animal studies have shown Kombucha to have immune stimulating activity; however

there is no evidence to support this use in humans.

To treat arthritis

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

To treat stress

No scientific evidence supports this use in humans.

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Research EvidenceNo clinical studies of Kombucha in humans have been found in

published literature.

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Warnings

This product is regulated by the F.D.A. as a dietary supplement. Unlike

approved drugs, supplements are not required to be manufactured under specific

standardized conditions. This product may not contain the labeled amount or may

be contaminated. In addition, it may not have been tested for safety or

effectiveness.

Growing Kombucha in unsanitary conditions has lead to contamination.

Lead poisoning has been associated with Kombucha tea brewed in a glazed

ceramic pot.

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Do Not Take IfIf your immune system is suppressed, you should avoid Kombucha

beverages produced in an uncontrolled environment.

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Side Effects

Stomach problems

Yeast infections

Anthrax contamination

Allergic reaction

Jaundice

Head and neck pain

Impairment of liver function

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Common NameChampagne of Life, Manchurian Fungus, Manchurian mushroom, Tea

Fungus, Kargasok Tea, Haipao, Fungus Japanicus, Combucha, Kwassan, Spumonto,

T'Chai from the Sea, Tschambucco

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Clinical SummaryPrepared by fermenting sweetened black tea with a symbiotic

culture of yeasts and bacteria, Kombucha tea has been used to treat a wide

variety of symptoms as well as certain diseases such as cancer, AIDS and

diabetes (3). The high caffeine and sugar content of the tea may account for

increased energy some users have reported following consumption of the product

(4). Animal studies have shown potent antioxidant, immunostimulating (5), and

hepato-protective (6) effects with limited toxicity (7), however clinical

studies in humans are lacking (8). Because of the method of preparation,

Kombucha can easily become contaminated. Allergic reactions, jaundice, serious

illness and occasionally death have been associated with the consumption of

home-grown Kombucha tea (9) (10) (11). Kombucha may reduce the absorption of

drugs that are sensitive to the pH level of the stomach (12).

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Purported uses

Acne

Atherosclerosis

Cancer treatment

Constipation

Diabetes

Fatigue

GI disorders

Headaches

Health maintenance

Hemorrhoids

HIV and AIDS

Hypertension

Immunostimulation

Osteoarthritis

Stress

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Constituents

Alcohol (0.5%)

Acids: acetic acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid, glucuronic acid, hyaluronic

acid, chondroitin sulfate acid.

Bacteria: Acetobacter ketogenum and Pichia fermentans

Yeasts: Brettanomyces, Zygosaccharomyces and Saccharomyces (1) (2)

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Mechanism of ActionPreparation of Kombucha tea yields a slightly carbonated,

acidic, fermented drink. Researchers have demonstrated Kombucha's antimicrobial

activity against a large number of pathogenic microorganisms even at neutral pH

and after denaturation. This suggests that Kombucha contains antimicrobial

compounds other than acetic acid and large proteins (13). In addition, Kombucha

tea has been shown to have high levels of B vitamins (14). Because of the method

of culture, it is easy for Kombucha to become contaminated with other organisms.

Contamination with Anthrax (10) and Aspergillus (14), a fungus that is dangerous

to people with lowered immune systems, have been reported. Green tea can

stimulate the Kombucha fermentation better than black tea, however it is

generally not used (3).

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Warnings

Growing Kombucha in unsanitary conditions has lead to contamination.

Lead poisoning has been associated with Kombucha tea brewed in a glazed

ceramic pot.

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ContraindicationsPatients with suppressed immune systems should not consume

Kombucha beverages produced in an uncontrolled environment (1).

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Adverse ReactionsReported (Oral): stomach problems and yeast infections (12).

Case Report (Topical): A case report of an outbreak of cutaneous anthrax in 20

people who had applied Kombucha grown in unhygienic conditions (10).

Case Report (Oral): Case reports of severe illness and death (9) have been

associated with the consumption of Kombucha tea. Two cases of lead poisoning

have been reported following drinking Kombucha tea brewed in a lead-glazed

ceramic pot (15). Four cases of gastrointestinal toxicity have been reported

from Kombucha as well, including two cases of allergic reaction, one case of

jaundice and one case of nausea, vomiting, head and neck pain (11). One case of

hepatotoxicity has also been reported following Kombucha tea consumption (2).

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Herb-Drug InteractionsKombucha tea is acidic. This may affect the

bioavailability of drugs that depend on the pH levels of the stomach for

dissolution and absorption(12).

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Literature Summary and CritiqueA systematic review of clinical evidence found no

clinical trials on humans (8).

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References

Mayser P, Fromme S, Leitzmann C, Grunder K. The yeast spectrum of the 'tea

fungus Kombucha'. Mycoses 1995;38:289-95.

Perron AD, JA, Yanofsky NN. Kombucha " mushroom " hepatotoxicity.

Ann.Emerg.Med 1995;26:660-1.

Greenwalt CJ, Steinkraus KH, Ledford RA. Kombucha, the fermented tea:

microbiology, composition, and claimed health effects. J Food Prot.

2000;63:976-81.

Majchrowicz M. Kombucha: a dubious " cure " . GMHC.Treat.Issues 1995;9:10.

Dipti P, Yogesh B, Kain AK, ine T, Anju B, Sairam M et al. Lead induced

oxidative stress: beneficial effects of Kombucha tea. Biomed.Environ.Sci.

2003;16:276-82.

ine T, Dipti P, Anju B, Kavimani S, Sharma SK, Kain AK et al. Studies on

toxicity, anti-stress and hepato-protective properties of Kombucha tea.

Biomed.Environ.Sci. 2001;14:207-13.

Vijayaraghavan R, Singh M, Rao PV, Bhattacharya R, Kumar P, Sugendran K et

al. Subacute (90 days) oral toxicity studies of Kombucha tea.

Biomed.Environ.Sci. 2000;13:293-9.

Ernst E. Kombucha: a systematic review of the clinical evidence.

Forsch.Komplementarmed.Klass.Naturheilkd. 2003;10:85-7.

Unexplained severe illness possibly associated with consumption of Kombucha

tea--Iowa, 1995. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. JAMA

1996;275:96-8.

Sadjadi J. Cutaneous anthrax associated with the Kombucha " mushroom " in Iran.

JAMA 1998;280:1567-8.

Srinivasan R, Smolinske S, Greenbaum D. Probable gastrointestinal toxicity of

Kombucha tea: is this beverage healthy or harmful? J Gen.Intern Med

1997;12:643-4.

Kombucha--toxicity alert. Crit Path.AIDS Proj. 1994;31-2.

Sreeramulu G, Zhu Y, Knol W. Kombucha fermentation and its antimicrobial

activity. J Agric.Food Chem. 2000;48:2589-94.

Gamundi R,.Valdivia M. [The Kombucha mushroom: two different opinions].

Sidahora. 1995;34-5.

Phan TG, Estell J, Duggin G, Beer I, D, Ferson MJ. Lead poisoning from

drinking Kombucha tea brewed in a ceramic pot. Med J Aust. 1998;169:644-6.

MICROMEDEX® Healthcare Series. 120. 2004. Thomson MICROMEDEX.

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