Description

Silymarin is an herbal medicine made from the seeds of the Silybummarianum plant (also known as “milk thistle”). It has been used for more than 2,000 years as a folk remedy for liver disorders, and is still used widely today for the same purpose. More specifically, it is most commonly used as a natural treatment for cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis or liver damage or poisoning with mushrooms, acetaminophen or other toxins. It is also used by many people as a general antioxidant and digestive aid, taken as part of a wellness regimen of natural herbs and vitamins. The active ingredients in milk thistle extract are the flavonoids silybin, silydianin, and silychristin, collectively referred to as Silymarin. Silymarin is widely sold in the United States, where it is considered a natural dietary supplement and not subject to prescription requirements.

Literally hundreds of medical studies have been conducted on Silymarin in recent times, and nearly all of them support strong liver protective and regenerative properties inherent in this natural remedy. Just one paper published in 1980, for example, concerns a double-blind investigation on Silymarin and its effect in treating cirrhosis of the liver. This study made note of a significantly higher survival rate in seriously ill patients when they were treated with this herbal medicine. Another, looking into its underlying hepatoprotective properties, suggests that one if its most important activities may be to increase levels of stored glutathione in the liver. Glutathione is an antioxidant amino acid peptide that is vital to the liver’s ability to remove toxins from the body. Depletion of this vital nutrient is also an important marker of liver stress with the use of c-17 alpha alkylated compounds, suggesting that Silymarin may indeed be directly beneficial to the steroid¬using athlete.

The typical dosage used is in the range of 300mg to 600mg daily. A standardized milk thistle extract contains about 80% active Silymarin, which would equate to about 240mg to 480mg of total Silymarin flavonoids. Bodybuilders will typically use this product daily during a cycle with liver toxic steroids, and continue to use it for 4 to 6 weeks after the cycle is discontinued in hopes that it will help normalize liver enzyme values, and repair damage that may have been done during the cycle. Studies do suggest, however, that Silymarin also has notable anti-inflammatory properties (inhibiting prostaglandin biosynthesis), which we know through recent studies is a trait that interferes with the protein synthesis response to resistance exercise (for a more detailed discussion, please refer to the NSAIDs drug profile).This may indicate the need to take somewhat of a “use if necessary” position, at least if absolute maximum muscle growth is the primary focus of your cycle.