HSA issues alert after elderly woman develops 'moon face' from health supplement Gu Jie Ling
Public are advised to not buy or consume health supplement as investigations reveal presence of potent steroid
SINGAPORE — The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has issued a public alert concerning the health supplement, Gu Jie Ling, due to the discovery of a potent steroid in the product.
In an press release on Thursday (1 February), the authority warns the public against purchasing or consuming this particular supplement.
Gu Jie Ling, marketed as a "traditional medicine" with herbal ingredients, claimed to be made entirely from traditional Chinese medicines. The product also claimed it has "no side effects" and is safe for symptomatic relief of backache, joint and muscle pain.
HSA sounded the caution after a woman in her 60s exhibited Cushingoid symptoms, such as a round and puffy face, along with low blood pressure during her hospitalisation for unrelated medical conditions.
Its investigations revealed low blood cortisol levels and significant weight gain in the month leading up to her hospital admission. The woman was subsequently diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome, a severe condition induced by steroids, known for a "moon face" appearance and other medical complications.
The patient revealed that she had been consuming Gu Jie Ling for several months to alleviate foot pain. It was recommended by her husband's friend, who had purchased it from a "traditional medicine shop" in Johor Bahru.
Gu Jie Ling found to contain steroid and antihistamine
An analysis conducted by HSA has identified that Gu Jie Ling contains dexamethasone (a steroid) and cetirizine (an antihistamine), both potent medicinal ingredients.
The authority said that dexamethasone, typically prescribed for inflammatory conditions, should only be used under strict medical supervision. Long-term unsupervised steroid use can lead to increased blood sugar levels (which may lead to diabetes), high blood pressure, cataracts, muscular and bone disorders, an elevated risk of infections, and Cushing's syndrome.
HSA warned that abruptly discontinuing steroids without proper medical supervision can also result in severe withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, confusion, and low blood pressure. Potent steroids may also suppress the body's normal production of cortisol, leading to adrenal insufficiency. This may result in fatigue, generalised weakness, muscle and joint pain, low blood pressure, fits, or shock.
Regarding cetirizine, an antihistamine used to relieve allergic reactions, HSA advised that it should also be administered under medical supervision due to potential adverse effects such as drowsiness and fatigue.
HSA also raised concerns about the product being labelled with a Malaysian product registration number, creating the impression that the product was registered by the Malaysian health authority.
"The registration number stated was not valid based on HSA's checks on the Malaysian health authority's website, suggesting that it may be an illegal product," it said, adding that it has alerted its Malaysian counterpart to this product.
Medical attention advised for Gu Jie Ling consumers
HSA strongly urges the public to consult a doctor as soon as possible if they have been taking Gu Jie Ling. It emphasised against discontinuing the product independently, as doing so without medical supervision could worsen underlying medical conditions or result in serious withdrawal symptoms.
The authority also called for an immediate halt to the sale of Gu Jie Ling by all sellers and suppliers, emphasising that strict enforcement actions, including prosecution, await those found selling products adulterated with potent medicinal ingredients.
Conviction could lead to imprisonment for up to two years and/or a fine of up to S$10,000.
HSA had reported on Tuesday that it seized over 1.12 million units of illegal health products and removed more than 12,000 listings of illegal health products from local e-commerce and social media platforms last year.
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