Silymarin as a Natural Treatment for Liver Problems
Humanity has used milk thistle to cure various ailments and complications. Among its prominent uses is in the natural treatment of liver problems, such as liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, jaundice, and gallbladder disorders. Health professionals also believe that milk thistle can also provide heart benefits, mainly due to its ability to reduce cholesterol levels. Medical research also shows that by combining the weed with other traditional treatments can help improve diabetes. In this literature review, we will compile and evaluate the scientific evidence on the effects of milk thistle on people with liver damage due to hepatitis and alcohol abuse. The literature review takes into account five scientific studies carried out between 2010 and 2018 to compile and evaluate the scientific evidence on the effects of milk thistle on people with liver damage due to hepatitis and alcohol abuse.
Success of Milk Thistle in Treating Hepatitis C
All the five scientific research show that milk thistle can help treat patients with hepatitis C, with varying rates of success among patients undergoing the treatment. In the study by Fried et al., after twenty-four weeks of treatment, only 33 percent of the patients met the primary outcome measure, a result attributed to the lack of well planned and defined efficacy endpoints, and the utilization of nonstandardized milk thistle preparation (Fried et al., 2102). All the five research outcomes show a success rate of thirty percent and above, with the highest success rate recorded by the research by Vergaz-Mendoza et al.
The Therapeutic Outcome and Components of Milk Thistle
Another similarity in the studies is in how the weed produces a therapeutic outcome and the components in the plant that help achieve that. According to the reviews, the natural compound Silymarine play a significant role in the treatment of liver diseases such as hepatitis. Silymarin produces hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities mainly due to the plant's ability to inhibit the free radicals that result due to the metabolism of toxic substances in the human system, such as ethanol and carbon tetrachloride (Vergaz-Mendoza et al. 144).
Improvement in Liver Functions with Milk Thistle
Two trials specifically dedicated their studies to alcoholic cirrhosis. Both studies showed significant improvement in aminotransferases in patients taking milk thistle as the medication. The two studies both showed increases in liver functions of the patients. On chronic alcoholic liver disease, three of the studies recorded significant improvement in at least one parameter of the liver function. On comparing milk thistle to other alternative medications, especially placebo, showed similar outcomes, with at least one outcome measure improving significantly with the administration of milk thistle as compared to placebo.
Research Papers on Milk Thistle and its Effects
Fried et al, (2012) in the research paper 'Effect of Silymarin (Milk Thistle) on Liver Disease in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Unsuccessfully Treated With Interferon Therapy A Randomized Controlled Trial,' try to determine the effect of silymarin on liver disease activity on patients with chronic hepatitis C virus, and who have been unsuccessfully treated with interferon-based therapy. The research was conducted on 154 patients in four medical centers in the United States, with chronic hepatitis C virus. In the study, the participants, through random sampling, received either 420-mg silymarin, 700-mg silymarin, or matching quantities placebo. The medications were administered three times a day for 24 weeks. The conclusion was that even by administering higher than customary doses of silymarin, there was no significant reduction in the serum ALT levels more than patients taking placebo for the same treatment (Fried et al. 2012).
The research by Vergaz-Mendoza et al. studies the hepatoprotective effect of silymarin. In the research the researchers study at least seven flavoligands and the flavonoid taxifolin present in milk thistle (Vargaz-Mendoza et al. 2014). The researchers utilize previous studies on silymarin to come up with the most accurate observation of the hepatoprotective effect of silymarin on humans. The research concluded that there is enough evidence suggesting that thistle milk can treat hepatic diseases. One of the most active sides of the research is its ability to compare old research on milk thistle, which impacts current beliefs and scientific progress on the study of silymarin and its medicinal importance to humanity. However, there are a couple of drawbacks. One, the research revealed some contradicting data compilation from previous studies, which in turn calls for additional studies on molecules with the objective of investigating the mechanisms of action for the compounds.
The research by Mulrow et al., (2000) trie to study the effects of milk thistle on liver disease and cirrhosis and clinical adverse effects. The study utilizes eleven electronic databases, which were searched for one month, with the help of terms such as, legalon, silybin, silychristin, and mariendistel. The research conclusion was that there is no clear establishment of whether milk thistle can help solve liver problems. Problems attributed to this outcome included small sample sizes, heterogeneity in etiology and the extent of liver complications, dosing, variation in the formulation, and the appropriate duration of milk thistle therapy (Mulrow et al., 2000). One strength of the study was its ability to study both the positive and adverse effects of milk thistle on liver disease and cirrhosis. However, the study also had its weakness, which is the decision to use previous data present in databases, such as AMED, and SCISCOM. For a more accurate result, it is recommended that researchers use new samples.
The study by Polyak et al., (2013) is also vital since it studies the hepatoprotective and antiviral functions of silymarin components in HCV infection. The review article utilizes the current state of knowledge on silymarin to understand whether and how silymarin protects the liver and also modulates HCV infection. The research concluded that although there is a significant effect of silymarin on the animal specimen, there was little effect of the same on human subjects undergoing the same treatment (Polyak et al. 2013). On the adverse effects, the study showed that there was little evidence of death and serious adverse effects on patients under the medication of silymarin. One strength of the study is that it also touches widely on dosage concerns. The study concluded that because silymarin is commonly consumed in its oral form, there is no proper dosage documentation. The research makes use of data from previous studies which might affect the accuracy of its deductions.
Yang, Zhuang, Lu, Xu, " Chen, 2014 studied the effects and tolerance of silymarin (Milk Thistle) in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus infection patients. The study utilizes a meta-analysis of random controlled trials. A total of 167 patients underwent arbitrary treatment with silymarin and placebo. The study found that silymarin had a significant effect on hepatitis C Virus patients (Yang et al., 2014). Silymarin can improve some symptoms, such as bodily pain and mean physical functioning.
Conclusion and Need for Further Research
From the research papers, it is easier to conclude that there is contradictory information on the effects of silymarin on hepatitis C and cirrhosis. Four out of the five research papers provide significant evidence that silymarin can have clinical benefits to patients suffering from hepatitis C and cirrhosis. However, all the research papers highlight the need for further research on the subject, pointing out that the contradictions by scientists may be as a result of lack of focus on the issue in the past, which in turn provides less collected data to help in research. It is therefore vital that further studies are conducted to ensure a comprehensive and reliable data is collected.
References
Fried, W., Navarro, J., Afdhal, N., Belle, H., Wahed, S., Hawke, L., Doo, E., Meyers, C., Reddy,
K., " The Silymarin in NASH and C Hepatitis (SyNCH) Study Group. (2012). Effect of Silymarin (Milk Thistle) on Liver Disease in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Unsuccessfully Treated With Interferon Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA : The Journal of the American Medical Association, 308(3), 274–282.
Mulrow, C., Lawrence, V., Jacobs, B., Dennehy, C., Sapp, J., Ramirez, G., Aguilar, C.,
Montgomery, K., Morbidoni, L., Arterburn, J., Chiquette, E., Harris, M., Mullins, D., Vickers, A., " Flora, K. (2000). Milk Thistle: Effects on Liver Disease and Cirrhosis and Clinical Adverse Effects: Summary. 2000. In: AHRQ Evidence Report Summaries. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 1998-2005.
Polyak, S., Ferenci, P., " Pawlotsky, J.-M. (2013). Hepatoprotective and antiviral functions of
Silymarin components in HCV infection. Hepatology, 57(3), 1262–1271.
Vargas-Mendoza, N., Madrigal-Santillán, E., Morales-González, Á., Esquivel-Soto, J., Esquivel-
Chirino, C., García-Luna y González-Rubio, M., Gayoso De-Lucio, A., " Morales-González, J. A. (2014). Hepatoprotective effect of silymarin. World Journal of Hepatology, 6(3), 144–149.
Yang, Z., Zhuang, L., Lu, Y., Xu, Q., " Chen, X. (2014). Effects and tolerance of silymarin
(Milk Thistle) in chronic hepatitis C virus infection patients: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BioMed Research International, 1-9.
