The liver is the largest internal organ in your body. It performs many functions, including manufacture of clotting factors and a blood protein called albumin; production of bile to digest fats; removal of toxins, drugs and bacteria; and storage of nutrients and some vitamins. When the liver is diseased, serious problems may result. Milk thistle is a traditional herbal remedy used to improve liver function and help the liver recover from damage. Consult your doctor to determine if consuming milk thistle would benefit you.
Liver Disorders
Some liver disorders include liver cancer or infections, such as hepatitis. Excess alcohol consumption or chronic exposure to toxins may cause cirrhosis, a disorder in which the liver deteriorates due to long-term injury from alcohol. Cancer in another organ may spread to the liver, damaging liver cells and causing symptoms such as jaundice or liver failure. Milk thistle may help protect the liver from disease or promote its recovery after it sustains injury.
Benefits of MIlk Thistle
Milk thistle, or Silybum marianum, contains a biologically active compound called silymarin, which may protect liver cells from damage caused by toxins or certain drugs. Silymarin is an antioxidant and also has anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center reports that it helps stabilize the outer membrane of liver cells by affecting membrane structure, preventing entry of toxins into the cells. Silymarin also stimulates an enzyme necessary for cell growth and may help the liver regenerate new cells after an injury.
The Evidence
Several studies and clinical trials suggest that milk thistle is protective of the liver. Dr. J. Feher and colleagues reported in a December 1989 issue of "Oovosi Hetilap" that therapy with silymarin improved cirrhosis in chronic alcoholics. In addition, in a review of 65 studies on silymarin as a treatment for liver disorders published in 2008, Dr. R. Saller and colleagues concluded that silymarin treatment is a useful therapy for several types of liver injury.
Recommendations
Milk thistle is available as standardized preparations in capsules from most health food stores. Each capsule usually contains 120 to 140mg silymarin. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the recommended daily dose is 280 to 450mg in divided doses. Milk thistle is generally considered safe, although some people may experience mild stomach upset or may be allergic to the herb. In addition, it may interact with certain prescription drugs, including some allergy drugs and blood thinners. Consult your doctor to determine if taking milk thistle is advisable for you.
References
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: What Does Your Liver Do?
- University of Maryland Alternative Medicine Center: Milk Thistle
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Milk Thistle
- PubMed.gov: An Updated Systematic Review with Meta-analysis for the Clinical Evidence of Silymarin; Saller, R. et al; February, 2008.
- Mayo Clinic: Liver Problems
- PubMed.gov: Liver-protective action of silymarin therapy in chronic alcoholic liver diseases; Feher, J. et al; December, 1989
