Silymarin (Milk Thistle Extract)
Silymarin (Milk Thistle Extract)
Silymarin is a herbal medecine made from the seeds of the Silybummarianum plant which is known as milk thistle. The name “milk thistle” is derived from two features of the leaves, they are mottled with splashes of white and they contain a milky sap. However, it is the seeds of milk thistle that herbalists have used for 2000 years to treat chronic liver disease and protect the liver against toxins. Increasing research is being undertaken on the physiological effects, therapeutic properties and possible medical uses of milk thistle.
Researchers found that milk thistle extract prevents and repairs damage in the liver from toxic chemicals and medications.
- Some workers who had been exposed to vapors from toxic chemicals for 5 – 20 years were given a standardized milk thistle extract (80% silymarin) for 30 days. After the treatment the workers showed significant improvement in liver function tests.
- Patients that were given long-term psychotropic drugs were given silymarin to prevent drug induced liver damage. It was found that with silymarin there was less hepatic damage from the oxidation of lipids.
- In a study published in 2009 in the journal ‘Cancer’, milk thistle showed promise in reducing the liver damaging effects of chemotherapy in a study of 50 children.
One of the most important hepatoprotective properties of milk thistle is its ability to increase levels of store glutathione in the liver. Glutathione is an antioxidant amino acid peptide that is vital to the livers ability to remove toxins from the body. Depletion of this vital nutrient is also an important marker of liver stress with the use of c17 alpha alkylated compounds (Dianabol, Anadrol etc), therefore silymarin may be directly beneficial to the steroid athlete.
A typical dose is used in the range of 300mg to 600mg daily. A standardized milk thistle extract contains about 80% active Silymarin, which would equate to about 240mg to 480mg of total Silymarin flavonoids. Bodybuilders will typically use this product daily during a cycle with liver toxic steroids, and continue to use it for 4 to 6 weeks after the cycle is discontinued in the hope that it will help normalize liver enzyme values, and repair damage that may have been done during a cycle.
Silymarin also have notable anti-inflammatory properties (inhibiting prostaglandin biosynthesis), which we know through recent studies is a trait that interferes with the protein synthesis response to resistance exercise. This may indicate the need to take somewhat of a “use if necessary” position, at least if absolute maximum muscle growth is the primary focus of your cycle. Milk Thistle can be purchased locally in a GNC store.