Lime by Revive

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Iron deficiency anemia. Preliminary clinical research shows that consuming diluted lime juice 500 mL standardized to contain ascorbic acid 25 mg twice daily, 6 days weekly, for 8 months does not improve iron status in iron-deficient women who consume diets high in phytate and non-heme iron (59927).
• Malaria. Preliminary clinical research in children aged 5 months to 13 years with malaria shows that taking lime juice 10-15 mL three times daily in addition to artemisinin combination therapy reduces the time to achieve a reduction in parasite load of at least 75% by approximately 8 hours when compared with using artemisinin combination therapy alone. Also, by 72 hours, more than twice as many children taking lime had achieved complete clearance (100120).
• Sickle cell disease. Preliminary clinical research in infants, children, and adolescents with sickle cell disease shows that taking lime juice 5-15 mL twice daily depending on weight for 6 months, in addition to folic acid, vitamin B complex, and proguanil, reduces the rate of a painful bone crisis by approximately 55% compared with not taking lime. Rates of painful episodes, febrile illness, and hospital admission were reduced by 46%, 47%, and 10%, respectively. There was no benefit on rates of blood transfusion, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, or jaundice (100121).
• Smoking cessation. Preliminary clinical research in people quitting smoking shows that taking fresh lime as needed for 12 weeks is as effective as nicotine gum for reducing cravings. It also seems to improve continuous abstinence over the last 3 weeks of treatment and after an additional 12 weeks. Abstinence was measured using exhaled carbon monoxide (100131). More evidence is needed to rate lime for these uses.

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LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally in amounts commonly found in foods. Lime has Generally Recognized As Safe status (GRAS) for use in foods in the US (4912).

POSSIBLY UNSAFE ...when used topically. Lime oil and lime juice contain photosensitizing constituents (12,11019,40894,59925,59928,100125,100126,100129). ...when used intravaginally. Lime juice has caused mild to moderate adverse effects in women using lime juice-soaked tampons or as a douche, especially in concentrations of 20% or more (100127,100128). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of lime when used orally in medicinal amounts.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using in amounts greater than those typically found in foods.

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General ...Orally, lime juice may cause diarrhea or tooth sensitivity and wear, but these adverse effects are rare (59927,100123,100131).
Topically, lime oil and lime juice can cause allergic contact dermatitis (12,4058,100122,100132). Phytophotodermatitis is common when topical exposure to lime is followed by exposure to the sun (40894,59925,59928,100125,100126,100129).
Intravaginally, 20% to 100% lime juice can cause burning, dryness, pain, itching, erythema, edema, or abnormal bleeding (100127).

Dental ...Orally, tooth sensitivity and erosion of teeth have been reported for a woman who had consumed 150-300 mL of lime juice each night before bed for 3 years without brushing her teeth (100123). Tooth sensitivity has also been reported in a clinical trial (100131).

Dermatologic ...Topically, lime can cause phytophotodermatitis hours to days after exposure. Numerous case reports involve preparing or otherwise handling drinks containing lime slices or juice, often at beach bars where there is also sun exposure (40894,59925,59928,100125,100126,100129,113820). Exposure from the skin of others who have handled lime juice has also been reported (113818,113819). Symptoms include redness, swelling, bullae, and hyperpigmented red-brown macules which can take weeks to months to clear (100125,100126,100129,113819,113820). This photodermatitis is likely due to coumarins and furocoumarins, which are psoralen isomers (113819,113820).

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, diarrhea has been reported as an adverse effects in a clinical trial (59927).

Genitourinary ...Intravaginally, 20% lime juice has resulted in burning, dryness, erythema, and edema (100127). Higher doses of 25%, 50%, or 100% lime juice were dose-dependently related to vaginal, cervical, or vulval symptoms, especially pain, itching, and abnormal bleeding. The abnormal bleeding was most common in women that had applied 100% lime juice with a tampon. Peeling, erythema, discharge, and tenderness also occurred (100128).

Immunologic ...Topically, lime can rarely contribute to allergic contact dermatitis (4058,100122,100132).

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