Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a flowering plant that belongs to the same family as daisies and ragweed. Also known as Mary thistle or holy thistle, it thrives in Mediterranean regions and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. The active ingredient in milk thistle, silymarin, is extracted from the plant's seeds and is known for its antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. While doctors mainly use milk thistle to treat liver problems, some people claim it can lower cholesterol, help manage type 2 diabetes, and even promote weight loss. This article explores the potential health benefits of milk thistle, with a focus on its role in weight management, and examines the scientific evidence supporting its use.
Milk Thistle's Composition and Forms
Milk thistle seeds contain silymarin, a mixture of chemical compounds including silybin, isosilybin, silychristin, isosilychristin, silydianin, and taxifolin. Most research has focused on the benefits of silymarin and silybin. Milk thistle is available in various forms, including oral capsules, tablets, liquid extracts, and teas. There is no standard dose of milk thistle, so it is best to read the dosage suggested on the packaging. If drinking milk thistle tea, it is best to limit intake to 6 cups a day.
Potential Health Benefits of Milk Thistle
Liver Health Support
Milk thistle is perhaps best known for its potential liver-protecting effects. It is often used as a complementary therapy for people with liver damage due to conditions like alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and even liver cancer.
A 2016 study found that milk thistle improved diet-induced liver damage in mice. A 2021 study showed improvements in liver function in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who have taken a milk thistle supplement, suggesting it could help reduce liver inflammation and liver damage. Researchers theorize that silymarin, the active ingredient in milk thistle, acts as an antioxidant by reducing free radical production, creating a detoxifying effect.
However, researchers must carry out more studies on humans to identify what benefits a person can expect from its use. Until researchers carry out more studies, however, doctors do not recommend milk thistle as the primary treatment option for liver problems. But it may be a helpful complementary treatment to try if a healthcare professional approves it.
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Skin Health Promotion
Milk thistle may also help promote healthy skin. A 2015 study found that it helped to improve inflammatory skin conditions when applied to the skin of mice. Researchers also found in another study that milk thistle had antioxidant and anti-aging effects on human skin cells in a laboratory environment. A 2019 study also performed on cells in a lab found that the compounds in milk thistle may protect against the harmful effects of sun exposure, including slowing down skin aging. Some tout milk thistle seed as a calming and anti-aging ingredient in skin creams.
Researchers must carry out further studies on humans to identify what benefits a person can expect from applying milk thistle to their skin.
Cholesterol Reduction
High cholesterol can lead to problems with heart health and increase a person’s chance of stroke. Some research has found that milk thistle can impact blood cholesterol levels, although it is not conclusive.
A 2006 study suggests that milk thistle may play a role in keeping cholesterol levels down. It found that cholesterol levels were lower in people taking milk thistle to treat diabetes than those taking a placebo. In a 2016 study, researchers fed rats a high-cholesterol diet. They gave some rats silybin (the active compound in milk thistle) at both 300 and 600 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight and found that these rats had significantly lower total blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Weight Loss Support
Initial animal research conducted in 2016 found that silymarin caused weight loss in mice that scientists fed a diet intended to cause weight gain. This suggests milk thistle may be beneficial for those looking to lose weight.
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Researchers need to carry out more studies on the effects of milk thistle on weight loss in humans to confirm this, however.
Insulin Resistance Reduction
A 2016 study in mice found milk thistle extract helped to reduce insulin resistance, which is a problem for people with type 2 diabetes. Another 2020 review of research on milk thistle concluded the compound silymarin appears to be a “promising substance” for the treatment of insulin resistance, including in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Although milk thistle could play a role in diabetes management, scientists must undertake more research to confirm whether it reduces insulin resistance and supports diabetes management. If you have diabetes or hypoglycemia speak with your doctor before using it. You should also talk with your doctor if you take medications or supplements that affect your blood sugar levels. Milk thistle might lower blood sugar in people who have type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, use milk thistle with caution, since the supplement might lower blood sugar.
Allergic Asthma Symptom Improvement
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease where the immune system overreacts to environmental triggers, leading to inflammation in the airways. The active ingredient in milk thistle may help to reduce inflammation. A 2012 study found that silymarin helped to protect against inflammation in the airways of mice with allergic asthma. Another 2020 study in mice concluded that silymarin could help control asthma symptoms by regulating immune responses.
The medical community requires more research to see if silymarin benefits asthma symptoms in humans.
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Cancer Spread Limitation
Milk thistle may help to stop the spread of certain types of cancer. Small studies mainly performed on cells in laboratories have found that milk thistle can slow cancer cell and tumor growth and possibly increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Researchers have found benefits for several types of cancer, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, leukemia, skin cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Several small studies have also found that milk thistle may decrease the side effects of cancer treatments, including radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved milk thistle for the treatment of cancer. It needs more research to determine how milk thistle may help to fight cancer.
Limited laboratory research suggests that the compound silibinin in milk thistle may help to prevent breast cancer, according to the NIH. Researchers think it may also slow down the growth of cancer cells. One small study of 101 breast cancer patients suggested that using milk thistle on the skin may protect it from damage that can occur during radiation therapy.
However, the extracts in milk thistle could act like estrogen. It may not be safe for people with hormone-sensitive breast cancer. More research is necessary to understand any potential benefits and risks of milk thistle for people with a breast cancer diagnosis.
Bone Health Support
Milk thistle could play an essential role in supporting bone health. A 2013 study found that milk thistle helped to prevent bone loss.
The study looked specifically at bone loss caused by a deficiency in estrogen among rats that had their ovaries removed. It is not yet clear whether milk thistle is equally beneficial for bone loss with a different cause. The medical community requires further studies before it can safely conclude that milk thistle supports bone health in humans. Share on PinterestMilk thistle tea may help to prevent bone loss caused by a lack of estrogen.
Cognition Improvement
A 2015 study in worms found that milk thistle increased resistance to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a potential cause of Alzheimer’s disease. In this way, milk thistle may help improve cognition and treat degenerative conditions that affect the mind. Researchers must carry out more studies on humans to confirm the effects of milk thistle on cognition.
Immune System Support
Milk thistle may help strengthen a person’s immune response. It could help the body fight off infection as well as reduce chronic inflammation produced by the immune system.
Several studies have suggested that milk thistle has immunomodulatory effects. Researchers found silymarin stimulated the immune system. It also suppressed an overactive immune system to tamp down on chronic inflammation involved in conditions such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. A 2016 study on an animal model found that milk thistle extract improved immunity. An older study found that milk thistle extract had a positive effect on immune response in humans.
More studies with human participants could allow scientists to say with certainty that milk thistle supports a person’s immune system.
Milk Thistle and Weight Loss: A Closer Look
While milk thistle has been traditionally used for liver health and other conditions, its potential role in weight loss is gaining attention. Several factors contribute to this interest:
- Liver Detoxification: The liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing fats and eliminating toxins. Milk thistle's liver-protecting properties may support optimal liver function, which can indirectly aid in weight loss. Red light technology or therapy (RLT) triggers what is called lipolysis, where the fat is drained from the fat cell and filters out through your liver and kidneys. So when the liver is functioning optimally, it helps to remove toxins from the body that can lead to weight gain.
- Improved Digestion: Milk thistle contains bitter compounds that may stimulate the digestive system, aiding in the breakdown and absorption of food. When digestion is impaired, it can lead to weight gain. That’s why we created our Colon Detox - designed to support digestion, reduce inflammation, and give your body the fresh start it needs.
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Chronic inflammation can lead to insulin resistance, making it harder for the body to use glucose for energy, potentially leading to weight gain. Milk thistle's anti-inflammatory properties, mainly due to silymarin, may help combat this.
- Metabolism Boost: Some studies suggest that milk thistle may increase metabolism, which is essential for fat loss. When your metabolism is high, your body burns more calories, even at rest.
- Cholesterol Management: High cholesterol levels can make it harder to lose fat. Milk thistle has been shown to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
While these mechanisms suggest a potential role for milk thistle in weight loss, it's important to note that more research is needed to confirm these effects in humans.
Milk Thistle and a Plant-Forward Diet: A Synergistic Approach
Thistle’s meals are high in vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients-good stuff your body needs. Something else your body needs? Fiber. That’s why we pack a lot into each meal. If you’re not accustomed to much dietary fiber, a sudden increase may leave you feeling…bloated. To more comfortably digest Thistle’s nutrient-dense, high-fiber foods, regularly check in with yourself to see how you’re feeling. Perhaps smaller bites like our soups and jar salads will work better than a full meal. And be sure to drink lots of water to help the fiber more easily move through your body. Over time, your body will adjust, and you’ll feel awesome.
With more fiber-filled vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes in your diet, your body will experience another shift: less sugar consumption. And that’s a good thing. But with fewer simple carbohydrates in your diet, you may temporarily have some energy crashes and mood swings. To offset an afternoon slump, incorporate healthy fats like avocados and nuts into meals and snacks.
After two weeks of eating Thistle’s meals, you feel great…mostly. You may shed a few pounds. You’ll likely feel more energetic, mentally clear, and physically lighter. What’s not to love? One little thing: cravings for familiar comfort foods may creep in. To curb cravings, reduce carb intake and do the same thing you did in week one to help with sugar withdrawal-increase consumption of healthy fats.
This week, you hit your stride. You’ve been feeding your gut a plethora of nutrients and beneficial bacteria, and it shows. You may notice brighter, more evenly toned and blemish-free skin. A healthy microbiome also strengthens your immune system and combats chronic inflammation. Plus, this week, your sleep will be more regular and you’ll be able to pop out of bed in the morning. Afternoon energy crashes become less powerful, or maybe even disappear.
This is the time to sit back and recognize all of the good effects. Lost a few more pounds? It may be due to the healthier gut created by all the plant-forward meals you’ve consumed. Calories in and out isn’t the only factor of weight loss; the composition of your microbiome matters a lot as well. Is this your first time going gluten-free or dairy free? This week you may notice the disappearance of bloating and brain fog.
Safety and Side Effects
According to the NIH, milk thistle supplements appear to have very few side effects. Rarely, taking milk thistle may cause a laxative effect, nausea, heartburn, upset stomach, or a mild allergic reaction at high doses.
There is not much information about the interaction of milk thistle with other drugs, including anticancer medications and radiation therapy. Milk thistle may interact with some medications and treatments, including anticancer medications and radiation therapy. It could also have similar effects on the body to estrogen. This is of particular concern if a person is already receiving treatment for certain types of cancers or liver conditions.
People with allergies to plants like ragweed, daisies, marigolds, and chrysanthemums may have an allergic reaction to milk thistle. Also, people with diabetes should be cautious about testing their blood sugar if they’re using milk thistle. Too-low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can be dangerous, even life-threating for people with diabetes if not treated.
Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates. Taking milk thistle might affect this enzyme and drugs it processes, such as diazepam (Valium), warfarin (Jantoven) and others. Raloxifene (Evista). Milk thistle may affect how your liver processes this osteoporosis medication, causing higher levels of the drug in your bloodstream. Simeprevir. Taking milk thistle with this hepatitis C medication might increase levels of the drug in your blood plasma. Sirolimus (Rapamune).
As with any natural remedy, people should discuss using milk thistle with a doctor before taking it. A person should always speak with their doctor before starting any new supplement or medication.
Milk Thistle vs. Dandelion: A Comparison
Similar to milk thistle, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has antioxidant effects. It reportedly has other potential health benefits, which may include: protecting the liver, immune system, and kidneysproviding antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial propertiesreducing the risk of diabetes, arthritis, and obesity
Due to some similar potential health benefits, producers have studied milk thistle and dandelion supplements and sold them together. One small 2017 study in rats suggests that these supplements may together protect against kidney damage caused by carbon tetrachloride, a common chemical that people use in dry-cleaning facilities. Another small 2015 study that fed rats a high-fat diet found that the combination of milk thistle and dandelion improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. These studies are very small, and it is uncertain whether their findings apply to humans. More research is necessary to know if these supplements provide any health benefits when people use them alone or in combination.
Regulatory Status and Quality Concerns
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved milk thistle to treat any health conditions. Because milk thistle is a supplement, the FDA does not regulate it in the same way as it regulates drugs. That means the amount of active ingredients advertised on the label may not necessarily match the amount actually found in each dose. For this reason, it is important to buy milk thistle from reputable retailers.