A Review of Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle) as a Treatment for Alcoholic Liver Disease

A Review of Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle) as a Treatment for Alcoholic Liver Disease

Silybum marianum (milk thistle) and its derivatives have been used for centuries for the treatment of liver disease. This review focuses exclusively on published literature pertaining to the potential use of Silybum marianum or its derivatives for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease. Clinical s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical gastroenterology Vol. 39; no. 6; pp. 520 - 528
Main Authors: Ball, Karen R, Kowdley, Kris V
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc 01-07-2005
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Subjects:
Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Humans
Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - drug therapy
Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - physiopathology
Medical sciences
Phytotherapy
Plant Extracts - pharmacology
Silybum marianum
Toxicology
silymarin
Hepatoprotector
Alcoholism
Hepatic disease
Review
Flavonoid
hepatoprotective
Polyphenol
alcoholic liver disease
Treatment
Silibinin
Phenols
Digestive diseases
Bibliographic review
milk thistle
Milk
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Summary:Silybum marianum (milk thistle) and its derivatives have been used for centuries for the treatment of liver disease. This review focuses exclusively on published literature pertaining to the potential use of Silybum marianum or its derivatives for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease. Clinical studies have varied greatly in quality, with the majority limited by inadequate sample size, lack of uniformity in the population treated, lack of standardization of preparations studied, variability in dosing regimens, inconsistent outcome measures, and lack of information on concurrent use of alcohol during the treatment period. While Silybum marianum and its derivatives appear to be safe and the available evidence on the mechanisms of action appears promising, there are currently insufficient data from well-conducted clinical trials to recommend their use in patients with alcoholic liver disease.
ISSN:0192-0790
1539-2031
DOI:10.1097/01.mcg.0000165668.79530.a0