Milk thistle (silymarin)
Extract of Silybum marianum containing silymarin, traditionally used for liver complaints.
What the research shows
Mixed or small evidence. The effect is uncertain.
Li (2024) pooled 26 trials with 2375 patients with fatty liver disease and saw shifts in blood values and imaging, without data on disease burden or survival. De Avelar (2017) saw ALT and AST fall, which the authors themselves called clinically irrelevant. In healthy livers nothing has been studied.
Who it makes sense for: People with fatty liver disease or another liver condition, under the supervision of a doctor.
How we weigh evidenceClinical dosage
Scientific sources
The clinical dosages on this page are based on peer-reviewed research.
- Administration of silymarin in NAFLD/NASH: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Li S et al. (2024)
- Effect of silymarin on biochemical indicators in patients with liver disease: Systematic review with meta-analysis.de Avelar CR et al. (2017)Funded by: Auteurs ontkennen elk belangenconflict.
We keep the dosages and values on this page as accurate as possible based on selected studies. New research may change these values. Nothing on this page is medical advice. If you have any doubts, always consult a doctor.