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Milk Thistle & HCV

Inhibition of T-cell inflammatory cytokines, hepatocyte NF-kappaB signaling, and HCV infection by standardized silymarin.

Polyak SJ, Morishima C, Shuhart MC, Wang CC, Liu Y, Lee DY.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Background & Aims: Chronic hepatitis C is a serious global medical problem necessitating effective treatment. Because standard of care with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy is costly, has significant side effects, and fails to cure about half of all infections, many patients seek complementary and alternative medicine to improve their health, such as Silymarin, derived from milk thistle (Silybum marianum). Milk thistle's clinical benefits for chronic hepatitis C are unsettled due to variability in standardization of the herbal product. Methods: In the current study, we focused on the anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties of a standardized Silymarin extract (MK-001). Results: MK-001 inhibited expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in anti-CD3 stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and nuclear factor kappa B-dependent transcription in human hepatoma Huh7 cells. Moreover, MK-001 dose dependently inhibited infection of Huh7 and Huh7.5.1 cells by JFH-1 virus. MK-001 displayed both prophylactic and therapeutic effects against HCV infection, and when combined with interferon-alpha, inhibited HCV replication more than interferon-alpha alone. Commercial preparations of Silymarin also displayed antiviral activity, although the effects were not as potent as MK-001. Antiviral effects of the extract were attributable in part to induction of Stat1 phosphorylation, while interferon-independent mechanisms were suggested when the extract was biochemically fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Silybin A, silybin B, and isosilybin A, isosilybin B elicited the strongest anti-NF-kappaB and anti-HCV actions. These effects were independent of MK-001-induced cytotoxicity. Conclusions: The data indicate that Silymarin exerts anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects, and suggest that complementary and alternative medicine-based approaches may assist in the management of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Mike
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Avatar universal
I am on my first week of treatment and cannot make a decision wither to use supplements or not.


Some of the goals during the treatment:
Helpful - 0
86075 tn?1238115091
from a person who routinely would get blasted out of the water for even mentioning herbs and supps, I thank you...ha ha ha...no, really, good article...I, myself, can't take milk thistle, allergic to ragweed, etc..but I take other things like Schzandra berries, etc..thanks!
Helpful - 0
29837 tn?1414534648
Wal-Mart sells Rexall brand concentrated Milk Thistle at 1000mg per soft gel for under $6 for 90 softgels. It brought my ALT and AST levels down from the 300's to the low and under 100's.

Magnum
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
Unless I relapse, I've decided no to all herbs etc.  I think if I live a healthy lifestyle my liver will improve more and more anyway.  I've decided the less meds of any sort the better from now on. I'm OD"d on taking meds I guess.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I used to be a big herbal person. I worked for a company that sold the herbs for anything under the sun. I took milk thistle for years before I became active with the hcv. I am not a firm believer in the herbs anymore but after txing I will start back up on milk thistle. You really need to be sure the herbs you are getting are from a  reputable company.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I took milk thistle prior to my transplant but not since. I will consider taking Silymarin but I must be assured of the integrity of the product and that's not an easy state of mind to achieve. Mike
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes since its not really regulated you have to be careful. I know of people that have had severe reactions to herbs and who really knows if it is what is says? The fed govt has not really put their hands in it so to speak so I am wary of if they are safe. best wishes:)shelly
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Avatar universal
I am a believer in alternative/complementary medicine and will entertain taking milk thistle when off tx. Can someone tell me what dose. I'm not sure if milk thistle comes in milligrams, or what....what would an appropriate amt be.
Helpful - 0
137025 tn?1217764741
Okay, I'm totally embarassed.   I will stand in the corner until the brain clears and the cheeks stop being so red.  Good work anyway.

Willow
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am so glad you are in research mode and are sharing.

You get my gold star!

I am being wishy washy about taking vitamins and have been taking Milk Thistle but inconsitently. May have to do a better job.

bean
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Shows you the difference in MD's.  My doc at Yale said to take it while on tx.  I'm on the max one with Phosphtydalcholine.  Also taking Dr Zhang's herbs. After 2 weeks, AST 31 - ALT 10.  We'll see how it holds up.

Best to all!
Helpful - 0
146021 tn?1237204887
Thak you that's great news. I tend to stay away from alternative medicine, just because of my own confusion over what really works and what could possibly be toxic. Not that the FDA would ever let us put anything toxic in our bodies!
One well written article like this though and I'm sold!!!
Bug
Helpful - 0
80575 tn?1207132364
I was on "Maximum Milk Thistle" for the past two years and had consistantly low AST numbers.  My doc wants me off of it while on treatment however when I finish tx I can guarantee that I'll be back on it most likely for life.

BTW; milk thistle is not milk thistle....Maximum Milk Thistle is an optimized version and can be purchased online at

http://www.maximummilkthistle.com/
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think you have me confused with miked. Mike
Helpful - 0
137025 tn?1217764741
I took milk thistle after I stopped tx in 2003 and it kept my ALT/AST down.  In fact I stopped for a while, ALT went up, went back on the milk thistle and the ALT went down again.  So I have this gut feeling that it helps very much.

My new doc asked me to quit for awhile tho, now we are in the "figure the stage/grade mode", so he wants to know ALT before my biopsy later this summer.

I will tell you that thistle gave me a tummy ache for the first two weeks, but that kind of subsided.  I traded it for the tummy ache from Paxil now, but the Paxil helps so much.  I'm not sure I'd try milk thistle while on tx, INF will give you enuff of a bellyache all by itself and you will see your ALT go down in a while.  I had an ALT of zero after about two months of tx.  This is a good thing, but it was kind of strange too.  

Hope today is good for you.  I talked to my counselor yesterday about your post, of course I did not use your name, but we talked about altering behaviors because of our families not being able to understand the tx or the disease.  I gotta thank you for your post, help me find the words to figure out one source of frustration and to explain my "isolation" to my counselor.  

She still isn't happy with me tho, I really kind of like my "solitude".  I still alter my behavior because I love my family, but I like my time alone to just be myself too.  This board is the one place where I KNOW folks understand.  And that is good enough for me.  
Helpful - 0
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