Through an Instagram reel, renowned hepatologist Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, widely known as “The Liver Doc,” has thrown down the gauntlet to a major supplement company after it threatened diabetologist Dr. Vishal Gabale.
He challenged the company to prove its products work, or stop threatening doctors who speak the truth.
The controversy began when Dr. Vishal Gabale, a diabetes and metabolic health educator with over one million Instagram followers, posted a video criticizing liver detox supplements.
Using Miduty's liver detox product as an example, Dr. Gabale presented evidence showing that ingredients like silymarin and N-acetylcysteine lack scientific support for their claimed benefits.
Miduty is an Indian company that specializes in manufacturing and selling nutritional supplements. They include vast range of supplements that includes Liver detox capsules, Vitamin B12 supplements, etc.
What he got in return was a threat of legal action for defamation.
Under pressure, Dr. Gabale removed his video. But this attempt to silence medical criticism backfired spectacularly when Dr. Philips, a multi-award-winning hepatologist, decided to take up the fight.
In a scathing video posted on November 26, Dr. Philips didn't just defend Dr. Vishal, he doubled down on the criticism and issued an unprecedented challenge to Miduty.
"Now if you want to sue me, take me, drag me out for defamation, be my guest," Dr. Philips declared. "It's not my first time. It won't be the last. But I can 100% prove that this does not work in court legally and medically and scientifically. But I don't think you can ever prove that this works."
Dr. Philips systematically dismantled the liver detox concept, calling it a "fraudulent marketing term" created by the wellness industry. His key arguments include:
"There is no scientific terminology known as a liver detox," Dr. Philips explained. "The liver detoxes you, you don't detox the liver." He emphasized that our liver and kidneys naturally handle detoxification without external supplementation.
Using the Consensus app, which evaluates scientific evidence for medical treatments, Dr. Philips demonstrated that silymarin shows only "weak evidence" for liver health benefits.
Silymarin is an antihepatotoxic substance isolated from fruits of Silybum marianum.
Similarly, N-acetylcysteine, useful specifically for paracetamol poisoning and certain acute liver failures has no proven benefit as a general liver detox supplement for healthy individuals.
N-acetylcysteine is the acetylated variant of the amino acid L-cysteine and is widely used as the specific antidote for acetaminophen overdose.
The product recommends taking one capsule after breakfast and lunch, but Dr. Philips questioned where this dosage came from. "We need to have dose finding studies to ideally understand what dose actually works for you," he said. "Where is the scientific evidence that this is the dose that actually works? There is no evidence."
At ₹1,500 per bottle, Dr. Philips called the product "a complete waste of your money."
Beyond wasted money, Dr. Philips warned of genuine health risks. He revealed that herbal and dietary supplements have become the leading emerging cause of liver failure in Western countries.
"Some of them can actually harm you," he cautioned, noting that silymarin products often contain fungal toxins and lack standardization or regulatory oversight.
"None of these actually pass any efficacy or safety standard clearances as per regulatory authorities from a scientific point of view," said Dr. Philips.
Dr. Philips made clear that his criticism extends beyond a single brand: "Not just Miduty's liver detox products, every liver detox product in the market is actually fraud and a waste of your money."
He described "liver detox" as purely a wellness marketing term designed to extract money from consumers, with no basis in medical science.
In his caption, Dr. Philips issued a direct challenge to Miduty: "If this video is taken down, it is proof that we are right. Shame on you for threatening Dr. Vishal Gabale with defamation. Everything he said in the video was correct. You have no proof to confirm your claims. Stop threatening doctors and start proving us wrong by showing Category Level A evidence of your products."
His closing message to supplement makers was unequivocal: "Do us all a favor. Either stop peddling shitty products like this or stop threatening doctors who actually improve education from a public health perspective."
Note: This article is based on statements made by medical professionals and is intended for informational purposes only.
(Rh/VK)
