After failing to challenge the scientific validity of a damning paper on Herbalife’s products, the multi-billion dollar MLM company resorted to legal threats to get it unpublished.

The
research paper in question
documented the finding of heavy metals in Herbalife products sold in India.

Medical researchers published the study following the death of a patient and Herbalife products consumer, who died of acute liver failure.

Three Professors based out of Brazil contacted Elsevier, the original paper’s publisher, to demand they
‘retract the paper because of a lack of evidence’
.

Initially, Elsevier did the right thing and asked the authors of the paper to address Herbalife’s concerns.

They did so and Elsevier published both Herbalife’s concerns and the author’s rebuttal.

As per the letter received by Elsevier, the authors are Flávio A. D. Zambrone, Cristiana L. Corrêa and Lígia M. S. Amaral – all of whom work at Planitox.

As per one of the author’s of the original paper, Planitox is a company funded by Herbalife.

Additionally;

Dr. Zambrone reports grants from Herbalife Nutrition Brazil, outside the submitted work.

The authors work at Planitox that is a Consulting Company in Toxicology and had already provided advisory services in human health area for Herbalife Brazil.

In the
Planitox letter
, sent on Herbalife’s behalf, the professors claim

the content of the research is shallow, failing to meet minimal scientific quality criteria.

The letter casts doubt on the results found in the original paper, without providing any conclusive errors in either the used methodology or findings.

And indeed this was a point of contention in the original paper’s author’s reply;

We were eager to go through their letter based on the title which stated a ‘necessary critical review’ of our published study, but were despondent to realize the scantiness of constructive criticism and presence of unsubstantiated ‘looming doubts’ from the authors which we will gladly address.

Addressing concerns raised by Zambrone and his colleagues, the author’s wrote;

Zambrone and colleagues stated that our study failed to meet minimal scientific quality criteria, when in fact, the study was designed as per CARE Case Reporting Guidelines which they might be unaware.

In our published study, we have presented complete details of HLN product use, discussed regarding concomitant drug use and very meticulously excluded all other causes for acute liver failure, including a liver biopsy that did not suggest evidence for alcoholic liver disease, contrary to what Zambrone and colleagues have mentioned in their letter.

The authors wrongly state that the patient consumed HLN products as per manufacturer recommendation. Dose and frequency of consumption were followed as per a ‘nutrition club coach’ (who are essentially untrained non-medical associates/sellers of HLN) guidance.

Zambrone et al also wrongly mention the recommended dose of Afresh Energy Drink.

The label recommenda

🤖 Quick Answer

What heavy metals were found in Herbalife products sold in India?
Medical researchers documented the presence of heavy metals in Herbalife nutritional products distributed in India, following the death of a consumer who experienced acute liver failure. The findings prompted an investigation into product safety and composition standards.

Why did Herbalife attempt to retract the scientific paper?
Herbalife sought retraction claiming insufficient evidence, engaging three Brazilian professors to contact Elsevier publisher. However, the company failed to challenge the research's scientific validity through legitimate academic channels before resorting to legal pressure tactics.

How did the publisher respond to Herbalife's retraction demand?
Elsevier initially requested the paper's authors address Herbalife's concerns. The publisher subsequently published both Herbalife's objections and the authors' detailed rebuttal, maintaining scientific transparency and peer review integrity standards.

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