Do detox supplements work and are they safe?

Answer:

There is no convincing clinical evidence that "detox" supplements or over-the-counter "chelation" products help remove toxins from the body or help treat or prevent any medical condition.

In general, the body can eliminate toxins on its own, without additional products. Organs such as the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, skin and lungs have various pathways by which toxins can be metabolized to safer compounds or excreted from the body (Klein, J Hum Nutr Diet 2015). Consequently, most experts believe that dietary supplements are unlikely to help.

The promotion of supplements as detoxifiers comes mainly from research on animals, such as mice, but research in people is needed to confirm possible benefits (Klein, J Hum Nutr Diet 2015; Sears, J Environ Public Health 2012).

However, getting the recommended amounts of minerals, such as iron, in your diet (including with supplements) may reduce the absorption of toxic metals, such as lead.

Sign in as a member for details about supplement ingredients promoted for helping to eliminate toxins from the body, including selenium, chlorella, modified citrus pectin, zeolite, malic acid, citric acid, and succinic acid, as well as branded products such as Detoxamin by World Health Products and BioToxin Binder by CellCore Biosciences. Also, find out which supplements are promoted for preventing absorption and accumulation of heavy metals in the body.