Guest guest Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 there was no significant difference..just a trend In a message dated 8/14/2008 1:42:14 P.M. Central Daylight Time, livingthelava@... writes: I can tell, everyday, that Milk Thistle supports my liver meridian, there is a significant difference. larrydLooking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Awesome, thanks for posting this. I can tell, everyday, that Milk Thistle supports my liver meridian, there is a significant difference. larryd > > I'm happy to report that the Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research > (FIAR – www.fiar.us) and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine had an > abstract accepted by the XVII International Conference on HIV/AIDS > held in Mexico City, Mexico, August 3-8, 2008. > > While we were delighted to have had a poster session available at the > conference, and I would have been delighted to attend, the Conference > rejected my application for scholarship assistance. > M. > > > *** > FIAR Milk Thistle Study Abstract: > Topic: B12 Hepatitis co-infections: (including HBV, HCV) > Cross-cutting Theme: 5. " Do the Right Thing " and Evidence-informed > policies & Programmes > Category: Track B Opportunistic Infections > Title: Pilot trial of milk thistle in HIV/hepatitis C co-infection > Author(s): G. 1, J. Godbold2, R. MacKay2, M. Smirnoff2, E. > Chusid2, D. Pagano2, H.S. Sacks2 > Institute(s): 1Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research (FIAR), > Brooklyn, United States, 2Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, > United States > > Background: Co-infection of HIV with hepatitis C (HCV) represents a > significant challenge and increased risk for morbidity and mortality. > Standard treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin often does > not achieve sustained viral response, especially among those with > genotype 1 and/or African-American ethnicity. Interventions that > improve liver function are urgently needed. Silybum marianum, Linn. > (milk thistle (MT)) has been shown to have some benefit on liver > function and fibrosis in various settings. > Methods: In a double-blind, 52-week trial, HIV+/HCV+ individuals were > randomized to receive either placebo or 180 mg thrice daily of an 80% > standardized silymarin extract (MT). Primary outcomes were safety and > feasibility. > Results: 21 subjects were enrolled; demographic characteristics > between arms were similar, approximately half men, half women in each > arm with a similar distribution of ethnicities, mainly African- > American (47.5%) and Latino (47.5%), reflecting our clinic > population. No significant hematological or blood chemistry > abnormalities were noted. No beneficial or adverse effect on CD4 > count or HIV or HCV viral load was observed between arms, nor were > there statistically significant differences in quality of life > parameters. There were no serious adverse events in either arm. There > was good retention in both arms (15 of 21 completed the study- 7 MT, > 8 placebo). No clinically apparent effect of milk thistle was seen on > HIV load, suggesting a lack of interaction with antiretrovirals. > There was a trend to decline in serum aspartate aminotransferase > (AST) in the MT arm of 8.4, versus an increase of 27.9 in the placebo > arm (p=0.099) > Conclusions: Milk thistle was safe in this study population, with no > clinically significant interactions with antiretroviral therapy. The > trend toward reduction in AST suggests possible benefit and deserves > further study. > > Supported by Grants no. 1R21-NR08860, 1K07-AT00591 and MO1-RR-00071 > from the National Institutes of Health. Country of research: United > States > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 That's right--and the efficacy is rather limited since oddly enough, most of the people had normal levels of liver enzymes on enrollment. Still, it was more than we expected.The best news was that it didn't interact with ARV and the intervention was safe and well tolerated. (Which means a lot less trouble than other studies where the notion of "well tolerated" is sometimes stretched a bit....)I think milk thistle can help, it's nontoxic and inexpensive. But living with Hep C, I don't rely upon it alone.No, a fifth of whiskey a night really does the trick!!<hic>On Aug 14, 2008, at 3:06 PM, PoWeRTX@... wrote:there was no significant difference..just a trend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Last year, when I was on the 48 weeks Pegynterferon/Ribavirin treatment, I asked my hepatologist if I could take milk thistle. She answered I'd better not, saying that one of her patients died shortly after taking it (while on the Pegynterferon/ribavirin treatment). I was a bit skeptical, but I didn't insist and didn't use it. > > > > I'm happy to report that the Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research > > (FIAR – www.fiar.us) and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine had an > > abstract accepted by the XVII International Conference on HIV/AIDS > > held in Mexico City, Mexico, August 3-8, 2008. > > > > While we were delighted to have had a poster session available at the > > conference, and I would have been delighted to attend, the Conference > > rejected my application for scholarship assistance. > > M. > > > > > > *** > > FIAR Milk Thistle Study Abstract: > > Topic: B12 Hepatitis co-infections: (including HBV, HCV) > > Cross-cutting Theme: 5. " Do the Right Thing " and Evidence-informed > > policies & Programmes > > Category: Track B Opportunistic Infections > > Title: Pilot trial of milk thistle in HIV/hepatitis C co-infection > > Author(s): G. 1, J. Godbold2, R. MacKay2, M. Smirnoff2, E. > > Chusid2, D. Pagano2, H.S. Sacks2 > > Institute(s): 1Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research (FIAR), > > Brooklyn, United States, 2Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, > > United States > > > > Background: Co-infection of HIV with hepatitis C (HCV) represents a > > significant challenge and increased risk for morbidity and mortality. > > Standard treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin often does > > not achieve sustained viral response, especially among those with > > genotype 1 and/or African-American ethnicity. Interventions that > > improve liver function are urgently needed. Silybum marianum, Linn. > > (milk thistle (MT)) has been shown to have some benefit on liver > > function and fibrosis in various settings. > > Methods: In a double-blind, 52-week trial, HIV+/HCV+ individuals were > > randomized to receive either placebo or 180 mg thrice daily of an 80% > > standardized silymarin extract (MT). Primary outcomes were safety and > > feasibility. > > Results: 21 subjects were enrolled; demographic characteristics > > between arms were similar, approximately half men, half women in each > > arm with a similar distribution of ethnicities, mainly African- > > American (47.5%) and Latino (47.5%), reflecting our clinic > > population. No significant hematological or blood chemistry > > abnormalities were noted. No beneficial or adverse effect on CD4 > > count or HIV or HCV viral load was observed between arms, nor were > > there statistically significant differences in quality of life > > parameters. There were no serious adverse events in either arm. There > > was good retention in both arms (15 of 21 completed the study- 7 MT, > > 8 placebo). No clinically apparent effect of milk thistle was seen on > > HIV load, suggesting a lack of interaction with antiretrovirals. > > There was a trend to decline in serum aspartate aminotransferase > > (AST) in the MT arm of 8.4, versus an increase of 27.9 in the placebo > > arm (p=0.099) > > Conclusions: Milk thistle was safe in this study population, with no > > clinically significant interactions with antiretroviral therapy. The > > trend toward reduction in AST suggests possible benefit and deserves > > further study. > > > > Supported by Grants no. 1R21-NR08860, 1K07-AT00591 and MO1-RR-00071 > > from the National Institutes of Health. Country of research: United > > States > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2008 Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 Hey Chad-- I'm sending your query to the list (you probably hit reply and it just came to me). I've been using milk thistle for years. Now, personally, I do NOT rely upon it alone. I think it should be part of a regimen to manage NASH that would include N-acetylcysteine (NAC), alpha lipoic acid. Also, check out the attached document. Lyn is a good background researcher and this gives some other ideas of things you can try. Such diseases often have diverse effects and require a comprehensive approach--we're biological beings, not chemical factories! So of course, addressing diet, exercise and sleep are all CRITICALLY important-- I hope this helps and others will provide their perspectives. M. On Aug 19, 2008, at 10:22 PM, chadken@... wrote: > Hi - I have been diagnosed with NASH (nonalcoholic > steatohepatitis), which has resulted in very elevated AST/ALT. Is > there anyone out there that has taken " milk thistle " ( silymarin > extract)? My gastro guy says that it doesn't work, but the study > below suggests otherwise. I would like to hear from anyone who > first-hand experience with this product. Thank you, chad > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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