Aa
Milk Thistle???
Very Interesting I must say!!!
New evidence implies that milk thistle interrupts the Hepatitis C virus' reproduction and proliferation cycles.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
For centuries, the extract from the milk thistle plant has been used to improve liver function. This practice is widely recognized - especially by the millions of people living with chronic Hepatitis C - a viral infection that can cause progressive damage to the liver. Hundreds of studies have provided evidence that silymarin, milk thistle's extract, is a potent liver cell protector. However, there have also been an abundance of conflicting reports regarding milk thistle's ability to directly affect the Hepatitis C virus. Providing even more reason for those with Hepatitis C to take milk thistle, a new study tips the scales of doubt by showing that silymarin exerts multiple effects against the lifecycle of the Hepatitis C virus.
Two previous studies that have indicated silymarin's usefulness against Hepatitis C include:
· The February 2008 issue of Hepatology looked at milk thistle use among 1,145 participants in the HALT-C study, sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. Although milk thistle users in this study showed similar liver enzyme levels and Hepatitis C viral loads to non-users, those taking milk thistle showed fewer liver-related symptoms and an improved quality of life.
· The March 2010 issue of Gastroenterology published a French study where researchers evaluated a commercially available intravenous preparation of silibinin - the most active component of silymarin - in those with the Hepatitis C virus. The researchers agreed that silibinin inhibited Hepatitis C polymerase function - a result comparable to what the STAT-C (specifically targeted antiviral therapy for Hepatitis C) drugs can do - without their accompanying hazards.
The new study that further identifies milk thistle as an anti-Hepatitis C substance examined the antiviral properties and mechanisms of silymarin on cultured (grown in a lab) human liver cells infected with the virus. The study, funded in part by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), was published in the June 2010 edition of the journal, Hepatology.
After growing human liver cells and infecting them with the Hepatitis C virus, the cells were exposed to either standard Hepatitis C drug treatment or a diluted dose of silymarin. The researchers then found the following:
· Silymarin prevented the entry and fusion of the Hepatitis C virus into the target liver cells.
· Silymarin inhibited the ability of the virus to produce RNA, thus interfering with a portion of the virus' lifecycle.
· When measured against untreated cells, silymarin significantly decreased viral load (although to a lesser degree than treatment with interferon did).
· Silymarin prevented the cell-to-cell spread of the Hepatitis C virus.
Upon carefully taking all of the variables into account, the researchers concluded that silymarin's antiviral action appears to include blocking the entry and transmission of the Hepatitis C virus, possibly by targeting the host cell.
Experts agree that more well-structured trials are needed to understand, quantify and verify silymarin's effectiveness against the Hepatitis C virus. More ammunition is required to break down the wall of doubt surrounding this herb's contribution to the Hepatitis C community. In the meantime, there is sufficient evidence confirming silymarin's ability to protect liver cells and improve liver function - two properties that everyone with Hepatitis C could benefit from.
New evidence implies that milk thistle interrupts the Hepatitis C virus' reproduction and proliferation cycles.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
For centuries, the extract from the milk thistle plant has been used to improve liver function. This practice is widely recognized - especially by the millions of people living with chronic Hepatitis C - a viral infection that can cause progressive damage to the liver. Hundreds of studies have provided evidence that silymarin, milk thistle's extract, is a potent liver cell protector. However, there have also been an abundance of conflicting reports regarding milk thistle's ability to directly affect the Hepatitis C virus. Providing even more reason for those with Hepatitis C to take milk thistle, a new study tips the scales of doubt by showing that silymarin exerts multiple effects against the lifecycle of the Hepatitis C virus.
Two previous studies that have indicated silymarin's usefulness against Hepatitis C include:
· The February 2008 issue of Hepatology looked at milk thistle use among 1,145 participants in the HALT-C study, sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. Although milk thistle users in this study showed similar liver enzyme levels and Hepatitis C viral loads to non-users, those taking milk thistle showed fewer liver-related symptoms and an improved quality of life.
· The March 2010 issue of Gastroenterology published a French study where researchers evaluated a commercially available intravenous preparation of silibinin - the most active component of silymarin - in those with the Hepatitis C virus. The researchers agreed that silibinin inhibited Hepatitis C polymerase function - a result comparable to what the STAT-C (specifically targeted antiviral therapy for Hepatitis C) drugs can do - without their accompanying hazards.
The new study that further identifies milk thistle as an anti-Hepatitis C substance examined the antiviral properties and mechanisms of silymarin on cultured (grown in a lab) human liver cells infected with the virus. The study, funded in part by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), was published in the June 2010 edition of the journal, Hepatology.
After growing human liver cells and infecting them with the Hepatitis C virus, the cells were exposed to either standard Hepatitis C drug treatment or a diluted dose of silymarin. The researchers then found the following:
· Silymarin prevented the entry and fusion of the Hepatitis C virus into the target liver cells.
· Silymarin inhibited the ability of the virus to produce RNA, thus interfering with a portion of the virus' lifecycle.
· When measured against untreated cells, silymarin significantly decreased viral load (although to a lesser degree than treatment with interferon did).
· Silymarin prevented the cell-to-cell spread of the Hepatitis C virus.
Upon carefully taking all of the variables into account, the researchers concluded that silymarin's antiviral action appears to include blocking the entry and transmission of the Hepatitis C virus, possibly by targeting the host cell.
Experts agree that more well-structured trials are needed to understand, quantify and verify silymarin's effectiveness against the Hepatitis C virus. More ammunition is required to break down the wall of doubt surrounding this herb's contribution to the Hepatitis C community. In the meantime, there is sufficient evidence confirming silymarin's ability to protect liver cells and improve liver function - two properties that everyone with Hepatitis C could benefit from.
Guess your doctor knows something many others don`t.
i am usually all for protecting your liver , slowing and or reversing fibrosis ect.... but NOT
while on treatment.
How do you know that Milk Thistle for example does`nt clear out SOC meds out of liver
to quickly by trying to detoxify it ?
What can have a beneficial effect normally does not nessecarily mean it is good on tx.
Pre tx I took lots of quality pharmaceutical grade Milk Thistle from Germany so it was regulated with garanteed Silibin potencies It had zero effect on my viral load.
There are also absorption issues and there is a trial where Silibin is administered
intraveneously also in Germany that showed some response but it had to be done very often
meaning you end up with an IV-pole next to you most of the time. End result only showed
a marginal HCV decline but no SVR as far as I remember. I studied that almost a year ago.
i am usually all for protecting your liver , slowing and or reversing fibrosis ect.... but NOT
while on treatment.
How do you know that Milk Thistle for example does`nt clear out SOC meds out of liver
to quickly by trying to detoxify it ?
What can have a beneficial effect normally does not nessecarily mean it is good on tx.
Pre tx I took lots of quality pharmaceutical grade Milk Thistle from Germany so it was regulated with garanteed Silibin potencies It had zero effect on my viral load.
There are also absorption issues and there is a trial where Silibin is administered
intraveneously also in Germany that showed some response but it had to be done very often
meaning you end up with an IV-pole next to you most of the time. End result only showed
a marginal HCV decline but no SVR as far as I remember. I studied that almost a year ago.
Just talked to my doctor and he said it was fine to take the milk thistle while on treatment!!
I will check before I take it, I've got a call in to the doctors office now.. Thanks guys!!
And again I do not believe we are supposed to take it while on treatment so be careful. Whether it has merit or not I thought that was a foundational belief around here....
Acupunturists advising supplements well go figure!
Just dont put too much stock in anything really helping you that much except killing off the virus - at the end of the day all else is hopeful at best and that's about it.
Acupunturists advising supplements well go figure!
Just dont put too much stock in anything really helping you that much except killing off the virus - at the end of the day all else is hopeful at best and that's about it.
Cindy, the article quoted above is interesting, but the overview itself is written by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac. This is a degree for acupuncture, so I’m not sure she herself is qualified to provide advice. The references to published, peer reviewed journals of course might carry some weight. Her summary at the end sounds like sage counsel:
“Experts agree that more well-structured trials are needed to understand, quantify and verify silymarin's effectiveness against the Hepatitis C virus….”
Bill
“Experts agree that more well-structured trials are needed to understand, quantify and verify silymarin's effectiveness against the Hepatitis C virus….”
Bill
Maybe I will start taking Walmart or Puritan. Spending a furtune on Life Extension super whatever. Don't think I'm getting 1000mg a day however. god I spend so much money on these nutrients. But smarter to do that, follow suggestions here by HR et al, than not to. . . .
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