Milk thistle has been in use for well over 2,000 years for liver disorders. Ancient civilizations noticed the health benefits from early on and science now indicates milk thistle’s benefits come from its ability to protect against cellular damage particularly in the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. For example, ancient Romans used milk thistle to treat most any toxin in the body, even snakebites. However, it was primarily used for common liver ailments.
In Germany, the Health Department commissioned studies and concluded that milk thistle should be used in liver damage treatment even as severe as cirrhosis due to its safety and efficacy.
The active medical ingredient in milk thistle is silymarin, found in the milk thistle seed. Silymarin is composed of 6 compounds and Silybin is the one identified in bestowing its health benefits.
Its important to note that the comparative bioavailability of silybin over milk thistle is higher. Most studies show the absorption between the two is approximately 10:1. Mathematically stated, this requires 1000 mg of milk thistle to equal the health benefits found in that of 100 mg of silybin.
Many are not aware the ingredient choline further increases silybin's bioavailability. A common form of choline in supplementation is phosphatidylcholine. When choosing a supplement to treat fatty liver or other liver ailments, this should be a consideration.1
There are studies that prove increased absorption of the silybin phosphatidylcholine complex at approximately 7-8 times that without phosphatidylcholine. Any supplements taken to treat the liver, gallbladder and or bile ducts must have these two ingredients without exception to most effective: silybin and phosphatidylcholine.2
Laboratory experiments have show silybin has possible cancer benefits as well, although Liver Medic does not endorse using silybin in place of cancer treatments. Independant studies have shown silybin decreases the toxicity of treatment and may slow the growth of certain cancers, while promoting healthy cell.3
Turmeric (95% Curcuminoids)
NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)
Often the question comes up, “can you reverse fatty liver disease?” Studies have shown this can be accomplished, but it does depend on the remedy and how far along the disease has progressed. Below are some important ingredients to detox this very important organ.
Milk thistle has been in use for well over 2,000 years and the effects of milk thistle have been know as far back as the Romans. It was used to treat most any toxin in the body, even snakebites. Though it was mostly used for liver ailments.
Today scientific research confirms milk thistle’s benefits come from its ability to protect against cell damage particularly in the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. But few are aware that silybin is the active compound in milk thistle bestowing these benefits and by taking silybin over milk thistle, bioavailability is improved 10-fold.
For instance, it would require 1000mg of milk thistle to equal the health benefits found in 100mg of Silybin. The bioavailability is enhanced further in the presence of phosphatidylcholine. It’s important to point out there is no study showing this water-soluble ingredient to be toxic at high doses. When choosing a supplement to treat fatty liver or other liver ailments, this should be a consideration.
Because the liver is involved in over 500 chemical reactions, it is further beneficial to have proper amino acids like one would find in MSM, Turmeric and NAC. Any liver product with all these ingredients would be considered a complete formulation enabling maximum liver detoxification.