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A Cautionary Tale of Herbal Supplements: What We Have Learned from Kratom

  • Kratom (O Grundmann and K Smith, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review enumerates seven outbreaks of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) product adulteration and contamination in the context of the United States Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA).

Recent Findings

At least seven distinct episodes of kratom product contamination or adulteration are known: (1) krypton, a kratom product adulterated with O-desmethyltramadol that resulted in at least nine fatal poisonings; (2) a suspected case of kratom contamination with hydrocodone and morphine; (3) a case of kratom adulteration with phenylethylamine; (4) contamination of multiple kratom products with heavy metals; (5) contamination of kratom products by multiple Salmonella enterica serotypes; (6) exposure of federal agents raiding a synthetic cannabinoid laboratory to kratom alkaloids; (7) suspected kratom product adulteration with exogenous 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Summary

Inadequate supplement regulation contributed to multiple examples of kratom contamination and adulteration, illustrating the potential for future such episodes involving kratom and other herbal supplements.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH and NIDA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute On Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Boulevard, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA

    Stephanie T. Weiss

  2. University of Colorado Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA

    Jeffrey Brent

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Correspondence to Stephanie T. Weiss.

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Weiss, S.T., Brent, J. A Cautionary Tale of Herbal Supplements: What We Have Learned from Kratom. Curr Addict Rep 10, 1–8 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-023-00465-8

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