Who knew a careless error in taking vitamins could put a mother’s life in complete danger? In recent news, Jenny Ramirez, a mother of four, experienced a near-death health crisis. Little did she know that it was because of a supplement she was on to improve the quality of her hair, skin, and nails.
The Fort Worth resident who was on a weight loss diet witnessed hair loss, which is common in women due to a lack of vitamin deficiencies. Ramirez began taking an over-the-counter vitamin to control her hair loss. However, the decision turned into her worst nightmare as around February 2025, she started noticing that her eyes and skin started yellowing, more like the kind of jaundice.
As per the Daily Mail, after a series of tests, Ramirez’s doctors confirmed that she was experiencing liver failure; her gastroenterologist told her that all of it was because of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a common ingredient in supplements.
Researchers, as per the outlet, claimed that MSM may protect against liver damage, but these vitamins come with a lot of hidden risks and can even be dangerous for people with pre-existing health issues. She wrote on her GoFundMe page: ‘I would never think I would be in this spot in a million years.’
In addition to jaundice-like symptoms, Jenny Ramirez also had to undergo gallbladder surgery to remove the stones that had blocked the secretion of bile (a liquid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that helps in digestion and the breakdown of fat).
The helpless mother posted about her condition on TikTok from her hospital bed and warned people to check supplements before relying on them. She said, ‘They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me, apart from needing my gallbladder removed. Jenny further added that the doctors thought she initially had hepatitis, but then all her scan reports were negative.
When she was questioned if she was on a new medicine or supplement, it then struck her that she had taken any vitamin supplements to strengthen the protein in hair and nails, boost collagen, and raise levels of minerals like zinc and vitamin E. “Be very careful taking these vitamins and supplements,’ she added in her video.
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Consequently, doctors claimed that due to the lack of regulation by the FDA, compounds like MSM could be contaminated by the time they make them or, even worse, in certain instances, the added dose goes far beyond what is considered safe. For Ramirez, she was taking 100 micrograms, or 0.1 grams, of MSM, which was not supposed to be fatal, but sadly, her body reacted differently to it.
While Jenny Ramirez’s liver damage case happens to be a rare one, As per WebMD, methylsulfonylmethane is also used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers, sunburns, stretch marks, severe constipation, wrinkles, and many others.
So far, studies have shown minimal side effects when MSM is taken orally in a dosage of 3 grams daily for six months. Still, some individuals may encounter mild gastrointestinal side effects such as discomfort or bowel problems.
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Meanwhile, per the Daily Mail, Dr. Supriya Joshi, a liver disease specialist in Toronto, told people that firstly, it’s important to understand why an individual is taking supplements and what lifestyle changes they must make to work. Secondly, it’s important to be aware of the dose a person is prescribed and check the labels and details before taking them.
Simply taking these pills as a quick remedy to cure issues or purchasing them on the internet without a doctor’s opinion can lead to major health setbacks and even untimely death in certain cases.
