Laurie McClintock, 61, died of dehydration in December
Lori, the wife of California Congressman Tom McClintock, died of dehydration caused by an herbal weight loss treatment, a coroner has found.
Lori, 61, died last December of extreme dehydration caused by a white mulberry leaf. This caused severe gastroenteritis, which caused Laurie to have diarrhea and vomiting.
It is unclear whether the politician’s wife took a dietary supplement containing white mulberry leaves or drank a dietary tea containing this leaf. The “partially intact” blade was still in his stomach when he died, according to the autopsy.
Lori tried to lose weight and also joined a gym before her death on December 15, 2021.
Her husband found her unconscious at her home in Sacramento after returning to California from a trip to Washington.
His death underscores the dangers of herbal and weight loss supplements, a pervasive but poorly regulated industry valued at $54 billion.
Where Laurie purchased the white mulberry leaf is not specified.
White mulberry extract can be purchased in a variety of ways online and at health food stores. It is FDA approved and is sometimes used to treat diabetes.
There are also several forms of white mulberry leaves available in tea and powder form on Amazon for $12.99.
The McClintock family, including California Representative Tom McClintock (right) and the couple’s son Justin (center) and daughter Shana (left)
Tom McClintock kisses his wife Lori after speaking at a convention on February 25, 2006 in San Jose, California.
His wife, who has not said anything about his death since last year, has yet to comment on the autopsy results.
The FDA did not immediately respond to questions on Thursday morning.
White mulberry leaf can be taken in pill or powder form.
It is also often made into herbal tea and is often used to treat diabetes.
The leaf works by slowing down the absorption of glucose in the body.
McClintock, 66, was returning from Washington after voting in Congress the night before.
He found his wife unconscious at his home in Elk Grove on December 15, 2021.
In a statement at the time, he said: “Our family’s darkest day and worst nightmare has arrived.
“Lori is gone.”
Dr. D’Michel Dupre, a former forensic pathologist from South Carolina, said that mulberry leaves cause dehydration and that part of their use may be to help with weight loss, primarily through fluid loss. The case was just too much.
Herbal remedies and teas used for weight loss can cause dehydration because they make your intestines move more often, removing excess water from your body.
If a person does not rehydrate, they are at risk of organ failure associated with dehydration.
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, there have been no reported deaths from the white mulberry plant in the last 10 years.
McClintock, a Republican, ran for governor of California in the 2003 election and for lieutenant governor in the 2006 election.
About 148 people reported ingesting the white mulberry plant to poison control officials across the country, mostly in cases where children ingested it, according to the AAPCC.
Diet supplements and herbal remedies are a $54 billion industry, respectively. Responsible Food Council.
The same source says that about 80% of Americans use dietary supplements.
The congressman and his wife Lori, along with their daughter Shana and son Justin, photographed during a happy moment in Sacramento in 2003.
The Facebook statement was posted on Congressman Tom McClintock’s official page four days after his wife’s death.
Source: Daily Mail
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