Best Milk Thistle Supplements

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Milk thistle is one of the most powerful supplements available today that helps detox the liver, protect the body from free radical damage, and reduce inflammation. This supplement is composed of four flavonoid compounds which include silibinin, isosilybin, silymarin, and silybin. Among these four compounds, silymarin is best known for providing milk thistle with its antioxidant properties.

In this article, we’ll review the health benefits of milk thistle as well as provide a breakdown of the 3 best milk thistle supplements available to help with detoxification and promote better all-around health.

Health Benefits of Milk Thistle

Milk thistle has been used for thousands of years in the treatment of numerous liver disorders and is currently used in Europe by patients who have received medication that is known to cause liver problems as a form of protection from further health complications.

There are extensive scientific studies that have demonstrated the therapeutic properties of milk thistle, with most of them centered on its active ingredient, silymarin. These studies have displayed the effectiveness of milk thistle as a potent antioxidant and provided evidence on its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antiviral activities.

Additionally, these studies have provided vital information on its potential role in the treatment of major liver disorders, such as chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as shown its importance in the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation all throughout the body.

Finally, silymarin has huge potential in serving as a therapeutic adjuvant and is frequently prescribed to patients worldwide to help reduce liver toxicity from the consumption of certain medications and to enhance as well as expedite healing. [1]

Milk Thistle Benefits: Weight Loss

Milk thistle is able to facilitate weight loss and improve body composition through its role in controlling blood glucose levels. [2] Several studies have shown that the use of milk thistle extract with a high silymarin concentration by Type 2 diabetics not only improved their blood sugar levels but it also helped them to reduce their overall weight. [3]

Additionally, milk thistle aids the liver with detoxification processes and optimizes its overall function. This in turn has the ability to promote weight loss through the breakdown of toxic substances, the shedding of excess water, as well as enhanced hormonal function related to digestion and metabolism.

Best Milk Thistle for Fatty Liver

Along with its role in weight loss, milk thistle is also known for its ability to aid those with fatty liver. Studies have shown that milk thistle extract with high silymarin concentration, both on its own and when combined with potent antioxidants including Vitamin E, helps to substantially reduce liver size and protect against liver damage. [4]

Additionally, studies have shown that milk thistle improves certain parameters associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Evidence from these studies demonstrates that patients with NAFLD who have used milk thistle as a part of their treatment greatly reduced the presence of the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Those who suffer from NAFLD and other forms of liver damage have higher levels of AST and ALT enzymes in their blood, which is a key indicator of the liver being injured or severely damaged. [5]

Milk Thistle Side Effects

Milk thistle is generally well tolerated by most consumers and it’s quite rare to observe adverse reactions or serious health consequences from its use.

Some mild side effects that may be experienced by consumers include digestive issues, gastrointestinal discomfort, or minor skin irritation. However, more extreme side effects, such as rash or anaphylaxis, may occur in those who have allergies to plants within the aster family, such as ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, and daisy. [6]

Overall, milk thistle is extremely safe to use but those who have allergies to certain types of herbs and plants should consult with their doctor prior to use.

What to Look for When Buying Milk Thistle

The criteria you need to consider when choosing the best milk thistle are:

• Selecting a standardized extract made up of at least 80 percent of silymarin.
• Obtaining a high-quality product that complies with the best manufacturing processes available
• Selecting a product with enhanced bioavailability

The recommended clinical dose of daily milk thistle intake is 420 mg of silymarin and it is best to divide this into three separate doses.

Comparison of the 3 Best Milk Thistle Supplements

Milk Thistle Extract by Bulk Supplements

Milk Thistle Extract by Bulk Supplements is the ultimate antioxidant supplement for supporting liver function and reducing inflammation throughout the body. This product also supports bone and joint health as well as provides 212 mg of silymarin per serving.

Milk Thistle Extract comes in pure powder form and is sold in quantities ranging from 100 grams to 25 kilograms. Adults should take 250 milligrams once daily, or as directed by a physician.

This product is best for adults who wish to take pure milk thistle extract and are looking for a high-quality supplement that’s free from contaminants, additives, and unnecessary ingredients or fillers.

Liver MD by 1MD

Liver MD is a clinical-strength liver repair supplement that provides customers with 6 potent ingredients that help purify and optimize liver function.

This product combines a “supercharged” vitamin E, EVNolMax, an enhanced form of milk thistle extract, Siliphos Bioavailable Silybin, and numerous antioxidants to maximize liver health benefits and promote overall health.

Adults should take one capsule, twice daily, or as recommended by a healthcare professional.

This product is best suited for customers who are in need of a clinical-strength milk thistle supplement to aid liver detoxification, support weight management, and increase overall energy.

Persona Daily Vitamin Pack

Persona Nutrition provides its customers with their own personalized vitamin pack to best meet each individual’s specific health needs.

In order to best customize their vitamin pack, customers should initially complete a quick assessment on their website to receive personalized, science-backed supplement
recommendations. Specific questions on this assessment gather information on specific types of diets, allergies and food sensitives, health conditions, medication use, and more.

Alternatively, customers may also use the option to filter through specific vitamins and supplements by selecting their particular health needs on the product page or by specifically searching for the ingredient they want to include.

Persona’offers Euromed® Milk Thistle Extract which is standardized to 80% total silymarin flavonoids and best for enhancing liver function and fighting off free radicals through supporting the body’s detoxification process.

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Take-Home Message

Our top picks for brands that offer the best milk thistle supplements are Bulk Supplements, 1MD, and Persona. All 3 of these companies offer milk thistle supplements that support liver repair, provide customers with a high-quality product, and aid several other health areas.

References

[1] Delmas, D. Silymarin and Derivatives: From Biosynthesis to Health Benefits. Molecules 2020, 25, 2415.

[2] Huseini, HF et al. The Efficacy of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (Silymarin) in the Treatment of Type II Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Clinical Trial. Phytotherapy Res. April 20, 2016

[3] Hussain, SAR. Silymarin as an Adjunct to Glibenclamide Therapy Improves Long-Term and Postprandial Glycemic Control and Body Mass Index in Type 2 Diabetes. J Med Food. 2007; 10(3): 543-7

[4] Sorrentino G, Crispino P, Coppola D, De Stefano G. Efficacy of lifestyle changes in subjects with non-alcoholic liver steatosis and metabolic syndrome may be improved with an antioxidant nutraceutical: a controlled clinical study. Drugs R D. 2015 Mar;15(1):21-5. doi: 10.1007/s40268-015-0084-x. PMID: 25732561; PMCID: PMC4359182.

[5] Zhong S, et al. The therapeutic effect of silymarin in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty disease: A meta-analysis (PRISMA) of randomized control trials. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Dec;96(49):e9061.

[6] FRANCINE RAINONE, D.O., PH.D., M.S., Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York Am Fam Physician. 2005 Oct 1;72(7):1285-1292.