Asparagus Extract [Discontinued] by PhytoPharmica

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Acne. Although there is interest in using oral and topical asparagus for acne, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of asparagus for this condition.
• Cancer. Although there is interest in using oral asparagus for cancer, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of asparagus for this condition.
• Constipation. Although there is interest in using oral asparagus for constipation, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of asparagus for this purpose.
• Intestinal parasite infection. Although there is interest in using oral asparagus for intestinal parasite infection, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of asparagus for this condition.
• Hypertension. Oral asparagus has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: Preliminary clinical research in adults with hypertension shows that taking a specific combination product (Asparagus-P, Grunwalder) containing asparagus root 6 grams and parsley leaf 6 grams daily for 6 weeks does not affect ambulatory blood pressure when compared with baseline (94940).
• Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis). Although there is interest in using oral asparagus for kidney stones, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of asparagus for this condition.
• Obesity. Oral asparagus has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: Observational research in overweight adults shows that taking psyllium 2-3 tablespoons each morning with 1.5 liters of elderflower juice, plus tablets providing asparagus powder 2.7 grams, elderberry powder 225 mg, and elderflower extract 600 mg daily for 2 weeks, and replacing each meal on days 5-12 with 200 mL of elderberry and elderflower juice, is associated with an average 3.2 kg weight loss and a modest reduction in blood pressure when compared with baseline (94939). It is not known if these effects are due to asparagus, other ingredients, the combination, or fasting from regular food for 8 days. Furthermore, the validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a comparator group.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although there is interest in using oral asparagus for RA, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of asparagus for this condition.
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs). Although there is interest in using oral asparagus for UTIs, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of asparagus for this condition. More evidence is needed to rate asparagus for these uses.

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LIKELY SAFE ...when used in amounts commonly found in foods. Asparagus seed and root extract have Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status for use in foods in the US (4912). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of asparagus when used orally in medicinal amounts or when applied topically.

PREGNANCY: LIKELY SAFE
when used in amounts commonly found in foods (4912).

PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY UNSAFE
when used in larger amounts for medicinal purposes. Asparagus extracts may have contraceptive effects (6); avoid using.

LACTATION: LIKELY SAFE
when used in amounts commonly found in foods (4912). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of asparagus when used in medicinal amounts during lactation.

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DIURETIC DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, asparagus root might increase diuresis and electrolyte loss when used with diuretic drugs.  Details Animal studies show that asparagus root extracts have diuretic effects (15558,15559,94940). This effect has not been reported in humans.

LITHIUM Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Probable •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, asparagus root might cause diuresis, reducing lithium clearance.  Details Animal studies show that asparagus root extracts have diuretic effects (15558,15559,94940). Theoretically, this might reduce excretion and increase levels of lithium. The dose of lithium might need to be decreased.

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General ...Asparagus is usually well tolerated when used in food amounts. Information on its use in medicinal amounts is limited.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Urine odor.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
All routes of administration: Allergic reactions.

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, a specific combination product (Asparagus-P, Grunwalder) containing asparagus root 6 grams and parsley leaf 6 grams caused constipation, abdominal distension and pain, nausea, dry mouth, and gallbladder complaints in up to 50% of the study population in one clinical trial (94940). It is not clear if these effects were due to asparagus root, parsley, or the combination.

Genitourinary ...Orally, asparagus can cause a strong urine odor in some people. It is not produced in all individuals, nor are all individuals able to smell the odor (32581,32583,32584,94942).
Orally, a specific combination product (Asparagus-P, Grunwalder) containing asparagus root 6 grams and parsley leaf 6 grams caused dysuria in approximately 2.5% of patients in one clinical trial (94940). It is not clear if this effect was due to asparagus root, parsley, or the combination.

Immunologic ...Orally and topically, asparagus can cause allergic reactions. They can occur in individuals sensitive to other members of the Liliaceae family, including onions, garlic, leeks, and chives (15557,15561,15562). Ingestion of fresh or canned asparagus can cause itchy eyes, runny nose, coughing, urticaria, dysphagia, dyspnea, and anaphylaxis in sensitized people (15561,15562,15564,32536,32594). There are also reports of fixed food eruptions, with lesions occurring at the same skin locations after ingesting asparagus on three separate occasions (15557,94941). Topically, exposure to asparagus during harvesting, processing, or cooking has caused contact dermatitis, urticaria, asthma, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis (15557,15561,15562,15564,32587,94943).

Musculoskeletal ...Orally, a specific combination product (Asparagus- P, Grunwalder) containing asparagus root 6 grams and parsley leaf 6 grams caused gout in approximately 2% of patients in one clinical trial (94940). It is not clear if this effect was due to asparagus root, parsley, or the combination.

Renal ...Orally, a specific combination product (Asparagus-P, Grunwalder) containing asparagus root 6 grams and parsley leaf 6 grams caused kidney pain and peripheral edema in approximately 15% of patients in one clinical trial (94940). It is not clear if these effects were due to asparagus root, parsley, or the combination.

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