The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) has issued a strong warning to pregnant women and lactating mothers to desist from using glutathione (bleaching pills).
It explained that the current dosage found on market may cause serious health problems for mothers and their babies.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Chief executive officer of FDA, Mrs. Delese Mimi Darko said, the Authority observed the emerging trend and use of creams, tablets, capsules, pills and injectable as skin lightening agents by consumers and after its preliminary investigations, Glutathione was identified as one of the harmful substances in these products.
The side effect of Glutathione she said, can slow down the production of melanin, a protein manufactured by melanocytes in our skins that gives the skin its brown colour, as a result there will be less melanin pigment, giving the skin a lighter colour.
She said, glutathione possesses antioxidant properties and plays a role in detoxification of drugs and xenobiotic, which are foreign substances that the body does not recognize, like pollutants, some food additives and cosmetics.
And when used as a dietary supplement at doses of 250-500mg daily, it is known to possess health benefits including raising energy levels, strengthening the immune system, fighting inflammation and aiding in cellular repair.
She disclosed that, the product has not been registered by the Authority and warned the public not to patronize these products.
Touching on the abuse of other substances such as Tramadol, Madam Mimi Darko, thanked the media for the tremendous work in educating the general public on the dangers of abusing Tramadol and other substances.
She said the FDA’s Technical Advisory Committee on Safety has, as a matter of concern done extensive work on codeine-containing cough syrups and has recommended that steps be taken to ban the importation and manufacture of codeine-laden cough in the country.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
