Effects of silybum marianum on patients with chronic hepatitis C

March 17, 2011

Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, Vol 16, No 3 (2011)

Home > Vol 16, No 3 (2011) > Kalantari

Hamid Kalantari, Zahra Shahshahan, Mehdi Hejazi, Taghi Ghafghazi, Vahid

Sebghatolahi

Abstract

•BACKGROUND: Silymarin derived from silybum marianum (milk thistle), a flowering

member of the daisy family, may benefit liver function in people infected with

the hepatitis C virus. The aims of this pilot study were to assess the efficacy

and safety of silymarin on serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, serum

aminotransferases (ALT, AST) levels, liver fibrosis and well-being in patients

with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

•METHODS: This prospective self-controlled trial study was conducted from March

to September 2006 at Department of Gastroenterology, Isfahan University of

Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 55 patients with HCV (10 female and 45 male)

with a mean age of 31.8 ± 6.4 years (10-67 years) were participated in the

study. Patients received 24 weeks of silymarin (630 mg/day). Baseline

virological biochemical, liver fibrosis (by a serum fibrosis markers, including

YKL–40 and Hyaluronic acid), and SF-36 questionnaire were performed with

biochemical tests repeated at the end of the treatment period.

•RESULTS: There was statistically difference in mean of ALT (108.7 ± 86.6 vs

70.3 ± 57.7) before and after the treatment (p < 0.001). The means of AST were

99.4 ± 139.7 and 59.7 ± 64.32 before and after the treatment with statistically

differences (p = 0.004). After the treatment, nine patients were found with

negative HCV-RNA (p = 0.004) and statistically significant improvement in

results of liver fibrosis markers were found only in fibrosis group (p = 0.015).

Quality of life was improved significantly (p < 0.001).

•CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that in patients with CHC performing

silymarin (650 mg/day) for 6 months, improved serum HCV-RNA titer, serum

aminotransferases (ALT, AST), hepatic fibrosis and patient’s quality of life.

More future studies are warranted.

---------------------------------------------------

Full Text: PDF

Recommended Posts