In the News: Silymarin for Hepatitis C

Silymarin—an extract from the milk thistle plant—is the most commonly used botanical for liver disorders, including hepatitis C, in the United States. In a recent study, higher-than-usual doses of silymarin did not provide greater benefit than placebo for the treatment of hepatitis in patients with chronic hepatitis C who previously failed to respond to standard antiviral treatment. The study, funded by NCCAM and by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Reference

• Fried MW, Navarro VJ, Afdhal N, et al. Effect of silymarin (milk thistle) on liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C who failed interferon therapy: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. JAMA. 2012;308(3):274-282.