Copyright © 2021 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Ebrahimpour, K.; Gargari, B.; Mobasseri, M. et al. Silymarin is administered intravenously in these cases. Herbal product use by persons enrolled in the hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) Trial. Thanks to its tendency to take over and kill surrounding plants, it’s classified as a noxious weed, yet milk thistle is edible. I will request my labs and provide it to you. Milk thistle can also intensify the effect of drugs that lower blood sugar, so consult your doctor about what dosage of milk thistle to take if you are being treated with hypoglycemic medications. Because the FDA doesn't regulate herbal supplements like milk thistle, capsules can contain varying amounts of silymarin. You can purchase Milk Thistle capsules at almost any Pharmacy. Milk thistle is generally considered safe when taken by mouth (1, 45). It indicates the supplements were tested by the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, and they’re verified to contain the type and amount of ingredients stated on the label. can you take milk thistle while drinking alcohol A 55-year-old male asked: should i take n-acetyl cysteine before or after drinking alcohol and much should i take? Before taking milk thistle, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have allergies (especially to plants), have any medical conditions, or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Effects of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. The milk requirement varies depending on age and gender. Sandi Busch received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, then pursued training in nursing and nutrition. Herbal product use by persons enrolled in the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) Trial. Phytomedicine. JAMA. Studies in animals indicate that milk thistle may protect the liver from toxins, but in human studies the results show conflicting evidence, according to a review of the research on New York University's Langone Medical Center website. Some yield positive results, and others show no benefits from milk thistle. It is not known whether milk thistle will harm an unborn baby. Hepatology. Milk Thistle does help, but figuring out the source to your problem would be helpful and then eliminate the problem. If you want to use milk thistle for allergies, you should take 140 milligrams of silymarin three times daily according to MedlinePlus. Milk thistle is a plant named for the white veins on its large prickly leaves.One of the active ingredients in milk thistle is silymarin, which is extracted from the plant's seeds. Silymarin is a flavonoid believed to have antioxidant properties.Milk thistle is sold as an oral capsule, tablet, powder and liquid extract. So my suggestion is this. bioavailability and absorption concerns. She's a native of New York, who now lives in Massachusetts and Maine. Hepatology. Although there have been several studies that demonstrate its effectiveness in the laboratory and on animals, there has not been much research done with humans. She is a CPA by training, but has many additional interests, including history, baseball, cooking, and travel. Milk thistle may interfere with the way your liver metabolizes a variety of medications. The best suggestion is to take 100mg per day combined with a number of natural anti-inflammatories like turmeric, resveratrol, green tea, grape seed and piperine. Can Green Tea Affect Liver Function Test Results? 2005 Nov;100(11):2583-91. Milk thistle’s reddish-purple flowers top stems that can grow up to 8 feet high. Suggested dosages range between 70 mg twice a day to 420 mg of silymarin three times a day. (silymarin) extract supplementation on antioxidant status and hs-CRP in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Web MD lists milk thistle dosage at 140 mg three times per day when used for allergy symptoms. When it comes to me, my doctor has initially recommended a high dose (because according to her the active ingredient silybin is not … Whole milk thistle: 150 mg 2-3 times a day containing 70% silymarin General anesthesia side effects ( 37 ) 420 mg/day of milk thistle silymarin extracts to prevent adverse side effects, including liver damage ( … About 150 milligrams of milk thistle, taken three times daily, qualifies as a high dosage. Rambaldi, A.; Jacobs, B.; Iaquinto G, Gluud C. Milk thistle for alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C liver diseases--a systematic Cochrane hepato-biliary group review with meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials. Its active ingredient is silymarin, which is said to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. There have been studies in Europe that have shown silymarin to be an effective antidote for death cap mushroom poisoning. Milk thistle can occasionally have a laxative effect, or produce other gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach upset. My liver tests were high when I first started taking it. Rev Diabet Stud. 1982;17:517–21. Silymarin is not water soluble, so teas aren't an effective way to benefit from milk thistle. (silymarin) extract supplementation on antioxidant status and hs-CRP in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Abenavoli L, Capasso R, Milic N, Capasso F. Milk thistle in liver diseases: past, present, future. You already (should) know it, milk thistle is the standard ingredient used in liver support supplements.. The recommended daily dosage for milk thistle for adults is usually 12 to 15 g dried herb. Am J Gastroenterol. If you experience these symptoms, reduce the amount of milk thistle that you are taking. Your body absorbs milk thistle better if the extract is bound with phosphatidylcholine. Doses range from 175 milligrams to 1,000 milligrams. So the next day after my period stopped I started with the DIM and the Milk Thistle… I take the DIM recommended dosage on the bottle which is two capsules per day for women , I take one with the breakfast and one with the lunch and for the Milk Thistle I take Half of the dosage which is 3 capsules per day , 1 with each food. The standard dose is 200 milligrams taken two to three times daily, according to New York University. If you drink regularly then you should take Milk Thistle regularly as well. A double-blind controlled study. Hepatitis, Chronic Active. Suggested dosages range between 70 mg twice a day to 420 mg of silymarin three times a day. Phytother Res. My bottle says there is 175mg per pill and says to take one pill 3 times a day which puts it up to 475mg a day before meals . If you’re wondering how much milk thistle to take to improve your health, the answer depends on your individual needs. Up to 420mg/day, taken orally as a supplement or in a tea, is safe for up to 41 months. Silymarin 70 … Milk thistle contains flavonoids that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Scand J Gastroenterol. Metformin 2 g/day: Viusid, Epaset, and Milk Thistle are nutritional supplements without strong evidence for benefit. 2010;24(10):1423-32. doi:10.1002/ptr.3207, Salmi HA, Sarna S. Effect of silymarin on chemical, functional, and morphological alterations of the liver. Updated September 2016. Using milk thistle as a prophylactic agent for preventing liver disease in your dog may damage the … Milk thistle is a dietary supplement made from the seeds of the milk thistle plant 1. As a result, there are no official guidelines for a recommended daily dosage of milk thistle. GNC offers a product that lists milk thistle dosage at 200 mg between one … Certain individuals should not take milk thistle 1. And if you are like me and like to drink on the weekend, get yourself some … See full monograph for Milk Thistle When and how should you take Milk Thistle if you drink? Even though it's generally safe, you may experience side-effects if you’re allergic to these plants. 2016;2016:5147468. This would provide 140 to 360 mg of silymarin in each dose, if the supplement was standardized to 70% to 80%. Milk is rich in calcium; every 8-ounce serving of milk contains up to 300 milligrams of this mineral which is needed not only for bone formation but is also crucial for their repair and maintenance. There have been studies in Europe that have shown silymarin to be an effective antidote for death cap mushroom poisoning. The PDR for Herbal Medicines recommends taking a milk thistle supplement of 200 to 400 mg three times a day. The most promising benefit is for treating alcoholic hepatitis and reducing the death rate from cirrhosis, but more studies are needed to verify milk thistle’s role. The European Medicines Agency recommends taking 300mg-600mg of milk thistle, two or three times a day.8 These people should avoid taking milk thistle extract:9,10 1. pregnant or breastfeeding women – there is no data on its safety 2. people with diabetes – it may reduce blood glucose levels in people wit… A general, reoccurring dosage for milk thistle is 140 mg three times per day for adults. 2008;47(2):605-12. Milk thistle is considered safe in dosages of 420 mg/day orally in divided doses for up to 41 months.Milić 2013, Tamayo 2007 One source suggests daily doses of 12 to 15 g of dry fruits for dyspepsia and disorders of the biliary system, while an extract containing 200 to 400 mg/day of silymarin is considered effective in various liver disorders.van Wyk 2004A dose of 140 mg of silymarin 3 times daily has been suggested for hepatic cirrhosis.Stolf 2017S. The most common amount administered for a milk thistle liver cleanse is anywhere from 140 mg to 300 mg, taken two to three times a day. As a single ingredient, the active compound called silymarin is not well absorbed. Sluggishness 2. Why would we recommend 2,200 mg/day when a veterinarian recommended 220 mg for the same dog? If your supplements contain this extra ingredient, then the dosage is 100 to 200 milligrams twice a day. Effect of silymarin (milk thistle) on liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C unsuccessfully treated with interferon therapy: a randomized controlled trial. Today it’s still used for the same purpose, but studies of its effectiveness have been inconsistent. The therapeutic potential of milk thistle in diabetes. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.8265. Certain individuals should not take milk thistle 1. same question for milk thistle. JAMA. Because the FDA doesn't regulate herbal supplements like milk thistle, capsules can contain varying amounts of silymarin. DOI: 10.1155/2016/5147468. DOI: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2005.00262.x. Although there is no standardized milk thistle dosage at this time, most people do best consuming between 20–300 milligrams daily. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Milk thistle supplements are commonly sold as in capsule form but are also available as tablets, tea bags, and oral tinctures. This means that if a child weighs 50 pounds, the child should take 1/3 of the adult dosage for milk thistle. The standard dose is 200 milligrams taken two to three times daily, according to New York University. Silibinin constituent: 240 mg taken orally two times/day. Silymarin had a moderate anti-inflammatory effect in patients with chronic hepatitis C, reported a study in the July 2013 issue of the “Journal of Viral Hepatitis.”. Your body absorbs milk thistle better if the extract is bound with phosphatidylcholine. How Much Milk Should I Drink a Day? Take about 420 milligrams (0.015 oz) of milk thistle extract per day. The PDR for Herbal Medicines recommends taking a milk thistle supplement of 200 to 400 mg three times a day. A Web Experience brought to you by LEAFtv, New York University Langone Medical Center: Milk Thistle, Journal of Viral Hepatitis: Impact of Oral Silymarin on Virus- and Non-Virus-Specific T-Cell Responses in Chronic Hepatitis C Infection, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention: USP Verified Dietary Supplements, Washington State University: Milk Thistle. Phytomedicine. 2012;308(3):274-82. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.8265, Ebrahimpour koujan S, Gargari BP, Mobasseri M, Valizadeh H, Asghari-jafarabadi M. Effects of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. I was taking 10mg twice a day last year, then went down to 10mg once a day, then 5mg a day. Susan MacDowell is a freelance writer from New England. Most tests of silymarin have been done using a dosage of 140 mg three times per day. Even moderate alcohol use can be deleterious to the liver, an indispensable organ that filters toxins. J Diabetes Res. 2015;22(2):290-6. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2014.12.010, Kazazis CE, Evangelopoulos AA, Kollas A, Vallianou NG. According to a 2001 Study (the full pdf study is here), silymarin aka milk thistle inhibits the function of androgen receptor. You might be aware of this and wondering, "How much milk thistle should I take to protect my liver from the drugs that I take for painful conditions like arthritis?" This way you can understand the dosage you're taking. Milk thistle belongs to the same family as daisies, ragweed and marigolds. Prickly yet pretty, milk thistle is a plant with a long, thin stem, spiny leaves, and a purplish-pink thistle at the top. Milk thistle can also intensify the effect of drugs that lower blood sugar, so consult your doctor about what dosage of milk thistle to take if you are being treated with hypoglycemic medications. 2008;47(2):605-12. doi:10.1002/hep.22044, Fried MW, Navarro VJ, Afdhal N, et al. Its active ingredients can interfere with some drugs, so talk to your health care provider before taking milk thistle if you’re on prescription medications. 2012 Jul 18;308(3):274-82. Milk thistle is generally available to the public in capsule form, although some herbalists make milk thistle tea. Milk thistle liver detox dosages vary from person to person depending on weight and overall health, so the following numbers are meant as guidelines and can be adjusted. A capsule should contain at least 70% of silymarin, the main active ingredient in milk thistle. It's available at your local pharmacy or health supplement store in the form of capsules, powder, or liquid extract. 100-250mg per day is sufficient for most people, as long as it is not a single-ingredient supplement. To get the best absorption into the bloodstream, it must be combined with lecithin. The stems, leaves, flowers and even the seeds were used in English cuisine, notes New York University. Best Milk Thistle Supplement for Liver: Make sure the milk thistle supplement contains 80% of the herb and it has undergone proper laboratory testing. safety standards. When deciding what type of Milk Thistle supplement to take for your Fatty Liver, you should always talk to your doctor. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate supplements, so look for the “USP Verified” mark. 1982;17(4):517-21. doi:10.3109/00365528209182242, Seeff LB, Curto TM, Szabo G, et al. How Much Milk Thistle Should You Take a Day? Silymarin in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. But my bottle milk thistle is standardized to 80% silymarin.Hope this helps to compare. The active ingredient -- silymarin -- includes several flavonoids extracted from the seeds, according to the University of Colorado. She taught families to plan and prepare special diets, worked as a therapeutic support specialist, and now writes about her favorite topics – nutrition, food, families and parenting – for hospitals and trade magazines. For diabetes: A specific product (Livergol, Goldaru Herbal Products Pharmaceutical Company) containing 140 mg of milk thistle extract has been taken three times daily for 45 days. Whyyy? Don't drink every day. Look for products made by reputable manufacturers of vitamins and supplements, who list the standardized silymarin extract on the package. Scan J Gastroenterol. You should take one a day of most capsules. A double-blind controlled study. How much milk thistle should I take to keep my liver healthy? A prophylactic substance is a medication given before a disease condition occurs to those who are susceptible to the disease. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, University of Maryland Medical Center -- Milk Thistle, Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Technology-- Milk Thistle. Consult your physician before taking milk thistle extracts if you’re pregnant or have hormone-sensitive conditions, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Voroneanu, L.; Nistor, I.; Dumea, R. et al. Seeff, L.; Curto, T.; Szabo, G. et al. If you take any prescription medications, consult your doctor before taking milk thistle. Fried, M.; Navarro, V.; Afdhal, N. et al. Milk Thistle. Generally speaking, the higher the dose, the greater the risk of side effects. It’s best to … DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2014.12.010. Therefore, it has always been said to users of prohormones (and all oral steroids as well) to use milk thistle before, during and after a cycle.. There is a high degree of correlation between liver health and mental functioning.Symptoms of liver issues brought on by alcohol use can include: 1. Because there are no official guidelines on milk thistle dosage, each supplement manufacturer is free to place its own recommendations on package labels. If you’re taking milk thistle for the liver, the recommended daily intake of milk thistle is 150 milligrams, taken one to three times daily. The PDR for Herbal Medicines recommends taking a milk thistle supplement of 200 to 400 mg three times a day. Salmi, H. and Sarna, S. Effect of silymarin on chemical, functional, and morphological alterations of the liver. It’s actually quite simple. A review of the literature shows dosages for children are similar to that of adults. A 250 mg capsule of milk thistle that is standardized to contain 40% silymarin will deliver half the dosage of silymarin than one that is standardized to contain 80%, for example. Taking silymarin together with an antihistamine may improve symptoms from allergies better than the antihistamine alone, according to Medline Plus. 2015 Feb 15;22(2):290-6. non-regulated by the FDA and concentrations could vary from manufacturer or manufacturer You should not use milk thistle for prophylaxis. Mike thistle is a herbal supplement that is alleged to support liver function. An individual with normal health can take 140-800mg of milk thistle per day to treat fatty liver naturally. Two different forms of milk thistle are being referenced: whole ground seed and concentrated extract powder. Milk thistle can be used in high doses to stimulate a natural liver detox. Hepatic Cirrhosis. Dosages of Milk Thistle: 140 mg silymarin taken orally three times per day. If you want to use milk thistle for allergies, you should take 140 milligrams of silymarin three times daily according to MedlinePlus. Milk thistle’s role in traditional medicine began 2,000 years ago when it was used to treat liver disorders. Milk thistle should be avoided by women who are pregnant, have hormone sensitive cancers or suffer from conditions such as uterine fibroids or endometriosis. Milk Thistle Dosage for Fatty Liver. Effect of silymarin (milk thistle) on liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C unsuccessfully treated with interferon therapy: a randomized controlled trial. 2014;11(2):167-74. doi:10.1900/RDS.2014.11.167. People mainly use the supplement to treat liver conditions. This is a somewhat high dose that can act as a natural liver detox. Look for products made by reputable manufacturers of vitamins and supplements, who list the standardized silymarin extract on the package. Which Vegetables & Fruits Naturally Have the Hormone Estrogen? How Does the Brahmi Herb Work in the Brain. Milk thistle may not be recommended in some situations. Because there are no official guidelines on milk thistle dosage, each supplement manufacturer is free to place its own recommendations on package labels. ... Certain individuals should not take milk thistle 1. In fact, in studies where high doses were used for long periods, only about 1% of people experienced side effects ( 1 ). DOI: 10.1002/hep.22044. Milk thistle is a dietary supplement made from the seeds of the milk thistle plant 1. and clinical efficacy data.