(No subject)

[Guest guest]

> http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/silymarin/NS_patient-milkthistle

the mayo site clearly states that efficacy has not been demonstrated..

other studies that support this conclusion:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

db=pubmed & cmd=Retrieve & dopt=AbstractPlus & list_uids=16255756 & query_hl=1 & itoo

l=pubmed_docsum

and this most recent one conducted by NCAAM

Dig Liver Dis. 2004 Nov;36(11):752-9. Links

Randomised double-blinded trial evaluating silymarin for chronic hepatitis

C in an Egyptian village: study description and 12-month results.

Tanamly MD, Tadros F, Labeeb S, Makld H, Shehata M, Mikhail N, Abdel-Hamid

M, Shehata M, Abu-Baki L, Medhat A, Magder LS, Afdhal NH, Strickland GT.

International Health Division, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive

Medicine, University of land School of Medicine, 660 West Redwood St.

Suite 100, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A double-blinded trial evaluating silymarin, an herbal

supplement for liver disease, to prevent complications of chronic

hepatitis C virus infection has not been done. SUBJECTS: One hundred and

seventy-seven consenting residents of an Egyptian village with chronic

hepatitis C virus were randomly assigned to receive either silymarin or

multivitamin supplements. METHODS: Participants had baseline and follow-up

clinical, ultrasound, blood tests and quality-of-life assessments.

Community nurses visited weekly to ascertain compliance, distribute

supplements and record adverse effects. RESULTS: At 12 months almost all

of 141 remaining subjects reported feeling better, although symptoms and

quality-of-life scores did not differ between the silymarin and

multivitamin groups. Both the silymarin and vitamins were tolerated

equally well; and >95% of supplements were taken by >95% of subjects. One

in each group had no detectable hepatitis C virus antibodies while two in

the silymarin group and three receiving multivitamins had undetectable

hepatitis C virus RNA. Serum alanine aminotransferase elevations did not

differ between groups. Serum hepatic fibrosis marker, hyaluronic acid and

YKL-40, and abdominal ultrasound results were similar in both groups and

may have progressed slightly at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The recommended

dose of silymarin can be safely taken for 1 year and improves symptoms and

general well-being, but has no effect upon hepatitis C virus viremia,

serum ALT, or serum and ultrasound markers for hepatic fibrosis. More

prolonged evaluation and a higher dose may be required to ascertain

whether milk thistle supplements prevent complications of chronic

hepatitis C virus.

bottom line is it does not appear that taking milk thistle is any better

for you than taking a multi vitamin.....sorry wish it was not so but the

data speaks for itself....

regards,

BobK