You lose weight if you consume fewer calories than you burn. There may be various tricks that can help, such as filling up on high-fiber food or building muscle to burn more calories, but there are no magic bullets that make it easier. Even drugs that prevent fats from being digested aren't particularly effective. There are no reliable, peer-reviewed, evidence-based studies that suggest milk thistle will help.
Milk Thistle
Silymarin refers to a class of flavonoids found in the milk thistle plant, which grows throughout the world. This class includes silibinin, silidianin and silicristin. Extracts of milk thistle and milk thistle capsules are found in health food stores. Although the FDA does not recognize them for any particular medical purpose, they may be useful in the treatment of liver disease.
Research
An article appearing in the May 2011 issue of the "World Journal of Gastroenterology" reviewed the technical literature about milk thistle products used in models of liver disease. The authors felt that such a review was necessary because approximately 65 percent of patients with liver disease in the U.S. and Europe take herbal preparations. After an exhaustive examination of the literature on milk thistle as related to hepatitis C, cirrhosis, acute episodes related to consumption of toxic mushrooms and chronic disease, the authors concluded that the bulk of the research was not persuasive, largely because of defects in the design of the studies. Positive findings did exist, but since they were in studies that were not double-blinded, or that had other defects, they could not be critically evaluated.
Other Possible Uses
As of 2011, the only study related to both obesity and milk thistle appeared in the July 2011 issue of "Cardiovascular Diabetology." This study involved looking at how milk thistle affected levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine in obese, diabetic mice. ADME plays an important role in cardiac disease in diabetic patients. Scientists showed that obese diabetic mice that were given silibinin, a flavonoid from the milk thistle plant, had lower levels of ADME. This paper does not pertain to weight loss.
Warning
Double-check with your doctor first if you are inclined to try milk thistle because this supplement is not for everyone. It interacts with many commonly used drugs, such as Allegra, Mevacor, Valium and warfarin. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid milk thistle, as should people with a history of breast, uterine or prostate cancers.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Milk Thistle
- "Cardiovascular Diabetology"; Effect of Silibinin on Endothelial Dysfunction and ADMA Levels in Obese Diabetic Mice; G. Li Volti, et al.; July 2011
- "World Journal of Gastroenterology"; Silybin and the Liver: From Basic Research to Clinical Practice; Carmela Loguercio and Davide Festi; May 2011
Member Comments