January liver detoxes are 'futile' say hepatologist

Going on a New Year detox to cleanse your liver is "medically futile", health experts warned yesterday.

The British Liver Trust has criticised January detoxes, which see many people avoid alcohol after the Christmas excesses. Dr Mark Wright, a consultant hepatologist at Southampton General Hospital, said: "Detoxing for just a month is medically futile. It can lead to a false sense of security and feeds the idea that you can abuse your liver as much as you like and then sort it all with a quick fix."