Householder S, Brazer N, Ilagan-Ying YC. Acute liver failure linked to OxyShred pre-workout supplement: A case report and review of literature. World J Hepatol 2026; 18(4): 116710 [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v18.i4.116710]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Sarah Householder, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, 20 York Steet, New Haven, CT 06511, United States. sarah.householder@yale.edu
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Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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Case Report
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Apr 27, 2026 (publication date) through Apr 22, 2026
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World Journal of Hepatology
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1948-5182
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Householder S, Brazer N, Ilagan-Ying YC. Acute liver failure linked to OxyShred pre-workout supplement: A case report and review of literature. World J Hepatol 2026; 18(4): 116710 [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v18.i4.116710]
World J Hepatol. Apr 27, 2026; 18(4): 116710 Published online Apr 27, 2026. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v18.i4.116710
Acute liver failure linked to OxyShred pre-workout supplement: A case report and review of literature
Sarah Householder, Noah Brazer, Ysabel C Ilagan-Ying
Sarah Householder, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
Noah Brazer, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
Ysabel C Ilagan-Ying, Department of Digestive Diseases, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
Author contributions: Householder S wrote the first draft of the manuscript with assistance from Brazer N and Ilagan-Ying YC; Ilagan-Ying YC guided the project and provided expert analysis; all authors revised the manuscript for intellectual content and approved the final version of this manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Sarah Householder, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, 20 York Steet, New Haven, CT 06511, United States. sarah.householder@yale.edu
Received: November 18, 2025 Revised: December 14, 2025 Accepted: January 27, 2026 Published online: April 27, 2026 Processing time: 154 Days and 9.2 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Pre-workout supplements (PWS) are advertised as popular wellness products, despite several “fat burners” being linked to hepatotoxicity. OxyShred thermogenic fat burner (OxyShred) is a PWS that has been rising in popularity and contains several hepatotoxic ingredients, including Garcinia cambogia. We present the first report of acute liver failure attributed to OxyShred use.
CASE SUMMARY
A 31-year-old woman with hypertension and obesity began using OxyShred as a PWS. After nine weeks, she was admitted with fatigue, emesis, and jaundice and found to have acute hepatocellular liver injury, which progressed to liver failure requiring transplantation.
CONCLUSION
Physicians should carefully screen for PWS use, caution against unregulated use, and advocate for increased regulation of herbal supplements.
Core Tip: Pre-workout supplement (PWS) use has grown rapidly with the expanding fitness market, yet many products contain poorly regulated herbal ingredients linked to liver injury. Multi-ingredient supplements cause most herb-related hepatotoxicity, and consumers often assume they are regulated despite minimal oversight. OxyShred thermogenic fat burner (OxyShred), a popular PWS, includes several agents associated with liver damage. A healthy 31-year-old woman developed acute liver failure requiring transplantation after eight weeks of consistent OxyShred use. This case highlights the risks of unregulated supplements, the need for physician inquiry about PWS use, and the importance of stronger federal requirements for safety evidence and ingredient transparency.
