Milk thistle is an herb used for centuries as a folk remedy to treat illnesses, such as liver and gallbladder conditions. Modern scientific research is finding that not only does milk thistle exhibit these disease-fighting effects in laboratory studies and human clinical trials, it may also be a useful tool in helping to curb obesity.
Identification
Milk thistle, known scientifically as Silybum marianum, is native to the Mediterranean region and belongs to the same plant family as daisies. Milk thistle supplements are extracted from the ripe seeds, comprised of 65 to 80 percent the antioxidant/anti-inflammatory compound silymarin, thought to be behind milk thistle's health benefits. The remainder of compounds in the seeds include polyphenolics and fatty acids such as linoleic acid.
Benefits
Milk thistle has hypoglycemic effects in lab and animal tests, with limited clinical trials showing decreases in fasting and post-meal serum glucose in diabetics, according to the Drugs website. The same anti-inflammatory properties in milk thistle, helpful in treating liver diseases like cirrhosis and in a variety of cancer cell lines, may also be helpful in controlling the type of inflammation often associated with obesity. Milk thistle has also been studied for treating fatty liver disease, which is linked to diabetes, high levels of blood fats and insulin resistance.
Expert Insight
A 2009 study at South Korea's Medical School and Institute for Medical Sciences at Chonbuk National University, published in the "International Journal of Molecular Medicine," found that milk thistle inhibits biological pathways that change baby fat cells into new adult fat cells and also decreases amounts of fatty acid synthase, keeping fat cell size in check. Research at the Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR in Tehran, Iran, published in December 2006 in "Phytotherapy Research," discovered that milk thistle silymarin treatment in type 2 diabetic patients over a period of four month months helped improve their glycemic profile. Scientists in Iraq reported in a September 2007 issue the "Journal of Medicinal Food" that milk thistle silymarin, in combination with the diabetes drug glibenclamide, improved long-term and postprandial glycemic control and body mass index in Type 2 diabetes patients.
Considerations
Milk thistle supplements are standardized to contain 70 to 80 percent silymarin and are found in the form of capsules, powders, liquids, tinctures and a silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex. According to the University of Maryland Health Center, the silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex may be absorbed more easily than regular standardized milk thistle. The recommended adult dosage is 280 to 450 milligrams per day in divided doses or 100 to 200 mg of silymarin-phosphatidylcholine complex twice daily. There are currently no recommended safe dosage levels for children.
Warning
Mild side effects of milk thistle include stomach upset, gas, bloating and diarrhea, with less common reactions including headache, impotence, and skin reactions, according to the Drugs website, as long as the dose doesn't go above the recommended amount. Milk thistle is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or if you have a history of hormonal cancers such as breast, uterine or prostate. It may also interact with other medications such as antipsychotics, anti-anxiety drugs, cholesterol drugs, cancer therapy, blood thinners and allergy preparations.
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