Can detox tablets cure fatty liver disease?

Hyderabad: A viral advertisement by Auric claims that fatty liver can be treated by taking two liver detox tablets every day.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Fatty liver is a common condition caused by the storage of extra fat in the liver. Most people have no symptoms, and it doesn’t cause serious problems for them. In some cases, though, it can lead to liver damage. The good news is you can often prevent or even reverse fatty liver disease with lifestyle changes.”

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false.

An article titled “Detoxing Your Liver: Fact Versus Fiction” published in the Johns Hopkins Medicine website, “The most effective treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is weight loss, which has been shown to decrease the amount of fat in the liver and the inflammation caused by the fat.”

Meanwhile, Healthline states that at present, there are no scientific studies that show that liver cleanse and detox drinks are effective. “In fact, most claims made by manufacturers are simply marketing gimmicks — or at best, based on anecdotal evidence. Although the drinks are claimed to remove toxins, it’s rarely clarified which specific toxins they remove or how,” it said.

Healthline further clarified that “no studies have shown that healthy people have a buildup of toxins in their bodies, nor are there studies confirming that herbal detoxes can improve your natural detox systems.”

However, it also suggested a few natural ways to keep your liver healthy such as adding berries, tea, beetroot juice, fatty fish, milk thistle, ginger, and licorice root to your diet.

Another article on Healthline further made things quite clear. “The touted benefits of liver cleansing products and supplements aren’t based on evidence or fact. They’re really just a marketing myth. If you’re concerned about your health, the best person to talk to is your doctor. They’ll be able to advise you on what you can do to safely promote liver health or address any other health concerns you may have,” it explained.

From this, it is evident that liver cleansing and detox tablets cannot cure fatty liver disease. Hence, the claim is false.