Health
Kratom Appears Safe in Early FDA Study That Excluded Popular Drinks
- Herb-based drinks are widely available in bars, gas stations
- Scientists say further research is needed on kratom’s risks
Kratom leaves.
Photographer: Lauren DeCicca/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Kratom leaves appear safe even at high doses when taken in capsule form, US regulators found in their first preliminary study of the popular botanical compound that they’ve targeted as a potential public health threat.
The US Food and Drug Administration research is intended to help fill a void surrounding the compound that’s been used for centuries in Southeast Asia, where people chew the leaves to get their mind-altering effects. Important questions remain about its impact in drinks and concentrates — more common in the US — which contain higher levels of kratom and could pose greater danger to consumers.