Silymarin is a compound that is extracted from the seeds of the milk thistle plant. Milk thistle has been used to treat gallbladder and liver disorders for more than 2,000 years, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although scientific evidence is mixed, several European studies do show that silymarin can improve liver function for people with cirrhosis or hepatitis. Fatty liver disease rarely leads to cirrhosis, and milk thistle may not be an effective treatment for fatty liver.
Silymarin
Milk thistle is a Mediterranean plant that can grow up to 10 feet in height. When its leaves are crushed, they release a milky white liquid. Silymarin is extracted from the seeds of the plant and is actually three different flavonoids -- silibinin, silidianin and silicristin. Silymarin is available as a dried herb in capsule form, liquid extract or tincture. There is some evidence that a combination of silymarin and phosphatidylcholine is more bio-available than silymarin alone; phosphatidylcholine can help silymarin attach to your liver cells while blocking other toxins.
Fatty Liver
Up to 20 percent of Americans may have fatty liver, which is simply excess fat deposits in your liver. There are rarely symptoms and few people develop further complications, says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. In about 2 to 5 percent of people, this fat can cause an inflammation,which could lead to scarring of your liver and compromised liver function -- cirrhosis. The causes of fatty liver are unknown, but it is closely linked to insulin resistance, obesity and high cholesterol -- all signs of metabolic syndrome.
Silymarin and Fatty Liver
Silymarin may help treat liver damage caused by hepatitis from alcohol or viruses. It could also improve liver function and decrease the death rate of patients with cirrhosis, says the Mayo Clinic. But fatty liver rarely leads to cirrohsis and typically does not impact liver function, so silymarin may not be useful to treat fatty liver. If your fatty liver disease progresses and does cause damage, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends taking between 280 and 450 mg of silymarin daily, divided into multiple doses. Usually dried herb capsules contain 120 to 140 mg of silymarin.
Treatment
The best treatments for fatty liver and diet and lifestyle changes. reaching and maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly and eating a diet high in nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables and whole grains will help reverse fatty liver disease. Lower your cholesterol levels by choosing unsaturated fats -- eat fish, nuts and olive oil in place of saturated fats found in red meat, full-fat dairy products and butter. Limit alcohol use, which burdens your liver, and don't take unnecessary drugs.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis; Anna Mae Diehl, M.D.; November 2006
- Better Health Channel; Liver Disease -- Fatty Liver Disease; June 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) -- Evidence; August 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Milk Thistle
- MayoClinic.com; Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver DIsease -- Lifestyle and Home Remedies; February 2011
