Is coumarin toxic to humans?

August 10, 2023

Some properties of coumarin

Coumarin is a naturally occurring compound found in several plants, including tonka beans, cassia cinnamon, and sweet woodruff. While it has a pleasant aroma and is used as a flavoring agent in some foods and beverages, it can be toxic to humans if consumed in large amounts.

Specific toxicity of coumarin

It can cause liver damage, leading to hepatotoxicity and potentially resulting in liver failure. Additionally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified coumarin as possibly carcinogenic to humans, meaning it has the potential to cause cancer under certain circumstances.

How to prevent and pay attention to the harm of coumarin

To control coumarin intake, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.1 mg per kilogram of body weight. This means that for an average adult weighing 70 kg, the recommended upper limit of coumarin intake is 7 mg per day. An individual's sensitivity and health status can also play a role in how coumarin affects an individual. People who have liver disease or are taking medications that affect liver function may be more susceptible to the toxic effects of coumarin. So people with liver disease should take little or no coumarin.