Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh's launch of a health supplement brand, Protocol32, has drawn criticism from doctors who say its scientific basis and safety are unclear. According to a Business Today report updated on 2 November 2026, hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, known online as The Liver Doc, and Dr C S Pramesh, Director of Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, have questioned the evidence behind the product's health claims.
Key points
- Protocol32 is a once-a-day sachet that Yuvraj Singh says combines 32 FSSAI-approved supplements.
- Dr Philips and Dr Pramesh have questioned the evidence for its claims and cautioned against celebrity promotion without strong science.
- Dr Philips's main worry is the mix of herbal ingredients, which he says have been linked to liver injury.
- The first batch is limited to a few hundred people on an invite-only basis.
What the product claims
Announcing the launch on X, Yuvraj Singh linked the venture to his own health journey. He recalled that he played the 2011 Cricket World Cup while battling cancer. He said most Indians who take supplements use only one, two or three products, which he suggested may not be enough for the body's many biological functions.
He said Protocol32 puts 32 FSSAI-approved supplements in one daily sachet, designed to work across 13 biological chains in the body. It is mixed with water or milk. Listed ingredients include creatine, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin E, zinc, folic acid, vitamin B12, ashwagandha, bacopa, curcumin, boswellia, CoQ10 and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). The claimed benefits cover energy, brain health, sleep, stress, immunity, digestion, joints, heart and liver health.
The first batch will go to a few hundred people through an invite-only model. They include fitness creators, doctors, dietitians, entrepreneurs and celebrities.
Concerns raised by doctors
The strongest criticism came from Dr Philips, a hepatologist and clinician-scientist known for advocating evidence-based medicine. In a strongly worded post, he accused Yuvraj Singh of promoting a product without properly understanding the science behind its formulation. He argued that celebrities with large followings should promote evidence-based healthcare, not products that make broad health claims.
His main concern is the combination of several herbal ingredients, namely ashwagandha, bacopa, curcumin and boswellia. He said these have been implicated in cases of liver injury. He also alleged that some ingredients are present in amounts too small to give the benefits seen in clinical studies.
Dr Pramesh also questioned the evidence for the product's claims. The report says both doctors cautioned Yuvraj Singh against using his influence to promote supplements without adequate scientific backing.
Dr Philips's post also refers to a reply from the brand's side. As quoted in it, the reply said Protocol32 is not meant for people with cancer, that it never claimed otherwise, and that it is for healthy adults. The source text ends before the rest of that exchange.
Why it matters
For doctors and patients alike, the debate touches on a wider question: how safe and effective are multi-ingredient supplements and herbal formulations? Patients often ask clinicians about such products, and herbal ingredients are a known concern in liver health. The report says the controversy has revived discussion on the safety of these products and on the growing business of preventive healthcare.
The source does not say whether the company will change its formulation or claims, or whether any regulator has responded.
