Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a front-runner in the Michigan Democratic Senate primary, has promoted a range of products on his podcast, including a metabolic device and supplements, even as he has accused others of selling unnecessary goods. El-Sayed has been critical of figures like Dr. Mehmet Oz, whom he accused in 2021 of attempting to "sell people s— they didn’t need" and being part of a "medical industrial complex that exists to sell you things that you don’t need that are not actually based in any level of science."
During the same period, El-Sayed hosted the podcast "America Dissected," which featured advertisements from numerous sponsors. In March 2022, he faced scrutiny for promoting Magic Spoon Cereal. El-Sayed defended the promotion, stating on a now-deleted social media post that he rejected ads making health claims and that Magic Spoon was "simply a high-protein, low-carb cereal" not claiming to improve sleep or longevity.
Despite this assertion, El-Sayed read ads for products whose claims have been questioned by medical experts. He touted the Lumen metabolic coach, a device claiming to help users understand their bodies' fuel usage for exercise and nutrition. However, some health experts have described the device as "quintessential marketing over science," noting it primarily measures carbon dioxide output and lacks practical use for weight loss goals according to researcher Nicholas Tiller.
El-Sayed also promoted Thrive Market, an online retailer of organic foods and supplements. He described it as a source for "all my healthy essentials delivered." Thrive Market offers products like "Moon Juice Brain Dust" and "Royal Jelly Brain Fuel," which claim to enhance cognitive function and focus. These types of supplements have drawn skepticism from health experts, with Dr. Pieter Cohen stating in February that "there’s no evidence to suggest there’s an ingredient in supplements that can improve brain health."
In 2024, Thrive Market settled a lawsuit for $1.4 million over allegations of deceptive subscription renewal practices and false claims about its terms. El-Sayed hosted his health podcast from 2019 to 2025, launching his Senate bid after its conclusion. Financial disclosures indicate his production company for the podcast generated over $100,000 in revenue, primarily from sponsorships.
Recently, El-Sayed has accused his primary opponent, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, and Rep. Haley Stevens of aligning with "corporations and special interests." El-Sayed's campaign did not respond to requests for comment on these matters.