Kombucha

Note:

  • Potential interactions associated with kombucha may be related to the type of starter tea used. For further details on black tea, green tea, or other teas, related Natural Standard monographs are available.

    • Kombucha/Drug Interactions:

  • GeneralGeneral: According to a review, kombucha may affect the potency of other drugs (28). According to secondary sources, kombucha tea may interact with prescription drugs in general.
  • AlcoholAlcohol: According to secondary sources, kombucha tea is a source of alcohol and thus there is a potential for additive effects with alcohol.
  • Anti-adhesion agentsAnti-adhesion agents: In animal research, intraperitoneal administration of kombucha decreased postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion formation (13).
  • Anti-aging agentsAnti-aging agents: In animal research, kombucha increased life span (1).
  • AntidiabeticsAntidiabetics: In animal research, kombucha tea reduced levels of blood glucose (9). According to the authors of an animal toxicity study (24), adverse effects of kombucha tea may include diabetes.
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In animal research, kombucha tea had a beneficial effect on blood lipids, resulting in a delay in absorption of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and an increase in HDL cholesterol (9).
  • AntimicrobialsAntimicrobials: In vitro, kombucha had antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, Yersinia enterolitica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Staphylococcus epidermis, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, Helicobacter pylori, and Listeria monocytogenes (3; 4).
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In vitro, kombucha teas had antiproliferative effects against HeLa cell lines (4).
  • Antiobesity agentsAntiobesity agents: In animal research, kombucha decreased food and beverage intake and weight at levels consumed by humans (15% dietary tea was considered by the authors to be equivalent to 300mL consumption by humans) (12).
  • AntipsychoticsAntipsychotics: A human case of kombucha tea toxicity was reported in a 22 year-old male with HIV (16). The man became aggressive and confused.
  • Antiulcer and gastric acid-reducing agentsAntiulcer and gastric acid-reducing agents: In animal research, kombucha tea healed gastric ulceration associated with indomethacin vs. black tea and black tea fermented with Candida parapsilosis (11).
  • Cardiovascular agentsCardiovascular agents: Serious illness occurred in two patients in Iowa, resulting in metabolic acidosis causing disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, cardiac arrest, and death in one patient and respiratory distress, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest in the second (20; 18). Derk et al. published a case report of a man developing anti-Jo1 antibody-positive myositis following consumption of kombucha (21). The myositis was associated with pleural effusions, pericardial tamponade, and "mechanic's hands."
  • DisulfiramDisulfiram: According to secondary sources, disulfiram may decrease the breakdown of alcohol naturally found in kombucha tea, resulting in adverse effects such as a strong headache, vomiting, and flushing.
  • Gastrointestinal agentsGastrointestinal agents: In animal research, kombucha reduced stress-induced fecal output (7). Also, in human research, adverse effects to kombucha tea have included nausea and vomiting (17; 18) and abdominal pain associated with lead poisoning (27).
  • HepatotoxinsHepatotoxins: In animal and in vitro research, kombucha had hepatoprotective effects (9; 31; 7; 32; 33). However, in human research, adverse effects to kombucha tea have included jaundice (17; 18). Hepatotoxicity related to the kombucha tea occurred in a 53 year-old male (23; 18).
  • Hormonal agentsHormonal agents: In a case report of a patient also taking thyroid hormone and hormone replacement, adverse effects to kombucha tea included xerostomia, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, and neck pain (17; 18). According to secondary sources, kombucha tea may interact with hormone replacement therapy.
  • HypotensivesHypotensives: According to secondary sources, kombucha tea may lower blood pressure.
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: In animal research, kombucha tea reduced the immunosuppression associated with lead feeding (5), increased humoral and delayed-type hypersensitivity response, and improved responses in chromate-treated animals (38).
  • Irinotecan hydrochlorideIrinotecan hydrochloride: According to secondary sources, kombucha may inhibit the gut bacterial enzyme beta-glucuronidase, which, according to animal research, may interfere with the proper disposal of irinotecan hydrochloride chemotherapeutic agent (30).
  • Neurologic agentsNeurologic agents: In the United States, dizziness has been thought to be due to consumption of kombucha tea, but the causality is unclear (36; 18).
  • Remicade?Remicade?: According to secondary sources, in patients taking Remicade?, kombucha may aggravate symptoms of ulcerative colitis and cause life-threatening side effects, such as the potential for a burst appendix.
  • Renal agentsRenal agents: In animal research, kombucha protected the function of the kidney (decreased creatinine and urea) and reduced nephrotoxicity (9; 6). However, nephropathy occurred in an animal toxicology study (24), and a human case of kombucha tea toxicity was reported in a 22 year-old male with HIV (16). The man presented with acute renal failure (serum creatinine: 2.1mg/dL) within 12-15 hours of ingestion.
  • Respiratory agentsRespiratory agents: A human case of kombucha tea toxicity was reported in a 22 year-old male with HIV (16). The man became short of breath.
  • Sodium bicarbonateSodium bicarbonate: A human case of kombucha tea toxicity was reported in a 22 year-old male with HIV (16). The man presented with lactic acidosis (lactate: 12.9mmol/L) within 12-15 hours of ingestion.
  • Thyroid hormonesThyroid hormones: In a case report of a patient also taking thyroid hormone and hormone replacement, adverse effects to kombucha tea included xerostomia, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, and neck pain (17; 18).

    • Kombucha/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • GeneralGeneral: According to a review, kombucha may affect the potency of other drugs (28). According to the authors of an animal toxicity study (24), adverse effects of kombucha tea may include malabsorption syndrome.
  • Antiadhesion agentsAntiadhesion agents: In animal research, intraperitoneal administration of kombucha decreased postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion formation (13).
  • Antiaging agentsAntiaging agents: In animal research, kombucha increased life span (1).
  • AntidiabeticsAntidiabetics: In animal research, kombucha tea reduced levels of blood glucose (9). According to the authors of an animal toxicity study (24), adverse effects of kombucha tea may include diabetes.
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In animal research, kombucha tea had a beneficial effect on blood lipids resulting in a delay in absorption of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and an increase in HDL cholesterol (9)
  • AntimicrobialsAntimicrobials: In vitro, kombucha had antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, Yersinia enterolitica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Staphylococcus epidermis, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, Helicobacter pylori, and Listeria monocytogenes (3; 4).
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In vitro, kombucha teas had antiproliferative effects against HeLa cell lines (4).
  • Antiobesity agentsAntiobesity agents: In animal research, kombucha decreased food and beverage intake and weight at levels consumed by humans (15% dietary tea was considered by the authors to be equivalent to 300mL consumption by humans) (12).
  • AntioxidantsAntioxidants: In animal research, kombucha had antioxidant effects, resulting in decreased lipid peroxidation and damage to DNA, and increased glutathione and glutathione peroxidase activity (5; 6; 7), and reduced plasma malondialdehyde levels and increased activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase in animals treated with chromium (38).
  • AntipsychoticsAntipsychotics: A human case of kombucha tea toxicity was reported in a 22 year-old male with HIV (16). The man became aggressive and confused.
  • Antiulcer and gastric acid-reducing agentsAntiulcer and gastric acid-reducing agents: In animal research, kombucha tea healed gastric ulceration associated with indomethacin vs. black tea and black tea fermented with Candida parapsilosis (11).
  • Cardiovascular agentsCardiovascular agents: Serious illness occurred in two patients in Iowa, resulting in metabolic acidosis causing disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, cardiac arrest, and death in one patient and respiratory distress, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest in the second (20; 18). Derk et al. published a case report of a man developing anti-Jo1 antibody-positive myositis following consumption of kombucha (21). The myositis was associated with pleural effusions, pericardial tamponade, and "mechanic's hands."
  • Gastrointestinal agentsGastrointestinal agents: In animal research, kombucha reduced stress-induced fecal output (7). Also, in human research, adverse effects to kombucha tea have included nausea and vomiting (17; 18) and abdominal pain associated with lead poisoning (27).
  • HepatotoxinsHepatotoxins: In animal and in vitro research, kombucha had hepatoprotective effects (9; 31; 7; 32; 33). However, in human research, adverse effects to kombucha tea have included jaundice (17; 18). Hepatotoxicity related to the kombucha tea occurred in a 53 year-old male (23; 18).
  • Hormonal agentsHormonal agents: In a case report of a patient also taking thyroid hormone and hormone replacement, adverse effects to kombucha tea included xerostomia, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, and neck pain (17; 18). According to secondary sources, kombucha tea may interact with hormone replacement therapy.
  • HypotensivesHypotensives: According to secondary sources, kombucha tea may lower blood pressure.
  • ImmunomodulatorsImmunomodulators: In animal research, kombucha tea reduced the immunosuppression associated with lead feeding (5) and increased humoral and delayed-type hypersensitivity response and improved responses in chromate-treated animals (38).
  • Neurologic agentsNeurologic agents: In the United States, dizziness has been thought to be due to consumption of kombucha tea, but the causality is unclear (36; 18).
  • ProbioticsProbiotics: Lactic acid bacteria promoted the production of D-saccharic acid-1,4-lactone from, and the growth of, Gluconacetobacter sp. A4, the main bacterium in kombucha (39). The authors indicated that inclusion of lactic acid bacteria in kombucha starter cultures may optimize the kombucha fermentation process.
  • Renal agentsRenal agents: In animal research, kombucha protected the function of the kidney (decreased creatinine and urea) and reduced nephrotoxicity (9; 6). However, nephropathy occurred in an animal toxicology study (24), and a human case of kombucha tea toxicity was reported in a 22 year-old male with HIV (16). The man presented with acute renal failure (serum creatinine: 2.1mg/dL) within 12-15 hours of ingestion.
  • Respiratory agentsRespiratory agents: A human case of kombucha tea toxicity was reported in a 22 year-old male with HIV (16). The man became short of breath.
  • Thyroid agentsThyroid agents: In a case report of a patient also taking thyroid hormone and hormone replacement, adverse effects to kombucha tea included xerostomia, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, and neck pain (17; 18).

    • Kombucha/Food Interactions:

  • GeneralGeneral: According to the authors of an animal toxicity study (24), adverse effects of kombucha tea may include malabsorption syndrome.
  • Probioticcontaining foodsProbiotic-containing foods: Lactic acid bacteria promoted the production of D-saccharic acid-1,4 lactone from, and the growth of, Gluconacetobacter sp. A4, the main bacterium in kombucha (39). The authors indicated that inclusion of lactic acid bacteria in kombucha starter cultures may optimize the kombucha fermentation process.

    • Kombucha/Lab Interactions:

  • Blood pressureBlood pressure: According to secondary sources, kombucha tea may lower blood pressure.
  • Fecal outputFecal output: In animal research, kombucha reduced stress-induced fecal output (7).
  • GlucoseGlucose: In animal research, kombucha tea reduced levels of blood glucose (9). However, according to the authors of an animal toxicity study (24), adverse effects of kombucha tea may include diabetes.
  • Kidney enzymesKidney enzymes: In an animal diabetic model, kombucha protected the function of the kidney (decreased creatinine and urea) (9).
  • LipidsLipids: In an animal diabetic model, kombucha tea had a beneficial effect on blood lipids, resulting in a delay in absorption of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and an increase in HDL cholesterol (9).
  • Liver enzymesLiver enzymes: In an animal diabetic model, kombucha protected the function of the liver (decreased aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) (9).
  • T cellsT cells: According to secondary sources, kombucha tea increases white cell (T cell) counts.