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Milk Thistle, Type 2 Diabetes
and Inflammation
Milk thistle is usually associated with liver
protection and support. Maintaining optimal
health does depend on a healthy liver. After
reading this study I’m reminded that milk
thistle is an anti aging herb as well. Any sub-
stance that can increase the body’s produc-
tion of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glu-
tathione peroxidase, two extremely impor-
tant antioxidant enzymes, is anti aging
indeed! One of the major jobs of the liver is
to metabolize and eliminate toxins and that
requires abundant reserves of antioxidants.
Aging can be defined as the decreasing abili-
ty to neutralize cellular oxidative free radicals
as well as the reduced ability to control
inflammation. This study shows that milk
thistle does both. Diabetics are especially
prone to the effects of aging, so adding milk
thistle may be something to consider. The
best form of milk thistle is the standardized
extract in capsules containing 140 mg of sily-
marin, the active component of the plant.
Because of low water solubility, only 20-50
percent of oral silymarin is absorbed. To
improve bioavailability, the two active com-
ponents isolated from silymarin, silybin A
and silybin B were combined with phos-
phatidylcholine (lecithin), producing an
enhanced absorption product called milk
thistle phytosome. This form of milk thistle
was found to be ten times more bioavailable
than silymarin.
Additional Comments
from Sam Forbes, CN.
B
ecause oxidative stress and inflammation
contribute to developing type 2 diabetes
and its complications, doctors wanted to
measure the effects of milk thistle on these
factors in those with type 2 diabetes.
In this study, 40 people with type 2
diabetes, aged 25 to 50, who were taking
standard diabetes medications, took 140 mg
of milk thistle three times per day, or a
placebo. After 45 days, compared to placebo,
those taking milk thistle saw circulating levels
of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase
increase by 12.85 percent, and the antioxidant
glutathione peroxidase rise by 30.32 percent.
Total antioxidant capacity increased by 8.43
percent compared to placebo. Doctors also
measured inflammation, with the
inflammatory factor high-sensitivity C-reactive
protein declining by 26.83 percent.
Malondialdehyde, an important sign of
oxidative stress, also declined by 12.01
percent compared to placebo.
Reference: Phytomedicine; February, 2015,
Vol. 22, No. 2, 290-6
Recommended Milk Thistle Products
Standardized Milk Thistle:
Phyto-Tech™ Milk Thistle Extract (Willner)
250 MG - Product Code: 60134
Thisilyn (Natures Way)
100 Capsules - Product Code: 18316
Milk Thistle Phytosome:
European Milk Thistle (Life Extension)
120 Softgels - Product Code: 63931
Siliphos (Thorne Research)
90 Vcaps - Product Code: 50845
