Milk Thistle Studied for Liver Health

By VRP Staff

Numerous studies indicate that milk thistle(Silybum marianum) exhibits liver-protecting properties. The constituent of milk thistle known as silymarin is believed to provide this activity.

In a recent randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, silymarin was investigated in patients with acute liver inflammation (hepatitis), to assess whether it impacts clinical signs and symptoms related to the disease. Study subjects were chosen based on symptoms of acute clinical hepatitis and levels of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT), which were greater than 2.5 times above the upper limit of normal. The subjects were supplemented with 140 mg of silymarin three times per day or a vitamin placebo for 4 weeks with an additional 4 week follow-up. The researchers evaluated symptoms of hepatitis and liver function tests on days 2, 4 and 7, and weeks 2, 4, and 8.

The results showed that the subjects receiving silymarin had a quicker resolution of symptoms. More specifically, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin caused by elevated bilirubin) and scleral icterus (yellowing of the whites of the eyes) improved more quickly. There was also a reduction in levels of indirect bilirubin, which is the yellow breakdown product from heme in red blood cells. Liver enzymes and direct bilirubin were not significantly affected. In addition, no adverse events were reported.

The study authors concluded, “Patients receiving silymarin had earlier improvement in subjective and clinical markers of biliary excretion. Despite a modest sample size and multiple etiologies for acute clinical hepatitis, our results suggest that standard recommended doses of silymarin are safe and may be potentially effective in improving symptoms of acute clinical hepatitis despite lack of a detectable effect on biomarkers of the underlying hepatocellular inflammatory process.”

Reference:

El-Kamary SS, Shardell MD, Abdel-Hamid M, Ismail S, El-Ateek M, Metwally M, Mikhail N, Hashem M, Mousa A, Aboul-Fotouh A, El-Kassas M, Esmat G, Strickland GT. A randomized controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of silymarin on symptoms, signs and biomarkers of acute hepatitis. Phytomedicine. 2009 Mar 18. Published Online Ahead of Print.

Silymarin is available as a stand alone supplement and is also available in HepatoGen™ along with other synergistic ingredients.