Cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, liver cancer, liver failure, and hepatitis are all disorders that damage the liver in people all over the world. Every year, about 2 million people die from liver disease around the world. Heavy alcohol consumption, high blood sugar levels, obesity, high blood pressure, infections, excessive triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and others are all risk factors for liver disease.
Medication, dietary therapy, immunotherapy, lifestyle changes, surgical resection, and even liver transplant in end-stage liver disease are among options for treating liver disease. Many people turn to alternative therapies, such as herbal supplements, in addition to mainstream treatments in the hopes of improving and protecting their liver health. Silymarin, often known as milk thistle, is a collection of chemicals derived from the seeds of the milk thistle (Silybum marianum), including silybin, silychristin, and silydianin. Milk thistle has been used to treat bile duct and liver disorders for over 2,000 years, and research suggests it may have liver-protective effects. It’s been hypothesized that silymarin has strong antioxidant properties, which could assist promote liver cell regeneration, reduce inflammation, and help people with liver disease. Human investigations, on the other hand, have yielded mixed outcomes. Taking a silymarin supplement, for example, has been proven in certain trials to help prevent liver disease progression, prolong life in persons with alcoholic cirrhosis, and improve general quality of life in people with liver disease.
