milk thisle

[sally123684]

OK guys ---  I was just doing  a little reading and milk thisle came up.  Do any of you use this with your treatment ?

[nygirl7]

My doc told me the same thing but I never researched it - the chance was enough for me plus with the interferon and riba it really wasn't necessary to try anything herbal (although I did take vitamins and some supplements as suggested in here only the ones that were really common (ie: selenium, green tea - gosh so long ago hard to remember the list now).

[justme53]

I do use Milk Thistle on tx.....My Dr. suggested it since I was cirrhotic and to undergo some double dosing for a time and then enhanced doses for the duration of 72 weeks. We knew there was a  chance that these doses could push my liver over the edge to decomposition so she recommended the MT...I just kept taking what I had taken for years. Did it affect my tx, keep me from reaching RVR? I'll never know, but I did make cEVR and 41 weeks later, liver is still chugging along. Definitely something a decision to make with your Dr's input.......Pam

[meakea]

I did NOT use it on treatment.  My doc told me that it's possible that milk thistle can make the tx drugs less effective.

Here's a link to possible drug interactions with milk thistle.  Interferon is not on this list but I do recall that back when I was researching milk thistle I did find a site that said that there could be an adverse interaction with interferon.  I wish I could find it now.

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/hepC/mthistle.html

[Bill1954]

Thanks Michael, I almost edited my post before I clicked to send; I was trying to offer Sally keywords so she could google them, but got overly helpful, I suppose :o).

Sally, I’m not sure either substance directly interferes with the action of IFN/riba, but I could be wrong about that too. Most importantly, be sure to check with the doc prior to taking any of this stuff.

[mikesimon]

Silymarin is an extract form the seeds of Milk Thistle it's not apples to apples.

"Gastroenterology. 2009 Sep 23.
    Silymarin Inhibits in Vitro T Cell Proliferation and Cytokine Production in Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

    Division of Virology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.

    BACKGROUND AND AIMS:: Silymarin, an extract from the seeds of the milk thistle plant Silybum marianum, has been used for centuries for the treatment of chronic liver diseases. Despite common use by patients with hepatitis C in the U.S., its clinical efficacy remains uncertain. The goal of this study was to determine if silymarin has in vitro effects on immune function that might have implications for its potential effect on HCV-induced liver disease. METHODS:: Freshly isolated PBMC and T cells from HCV-infected and uninfected subjects were tested in vitro for responses to nonspecific and antigenic stimulation in the presence and absence of a standardized preparation of silymarin (MK001). RESULTS:: Minimal MK001 toxicity on PBMC was found at concentrations between 5-40 mug/mL. MK001 dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation and secretion of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-2 by PBMC stimulated with anti-CD3. In addition, MK001 inhibited proliferation by CD4+ T cells to HCV, Candida and Tetanus protein antigens, and by HLA-A2/HCV1406-1415-specific CD8+ T cells to allogeneic stimulation. MK001 inhibited T cell TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma cytokine secretion to Tetanus and Candida protein antigens. Finally, MK001 inhibited NF-kappaB transcriptional activation after T cell receptor-mediated stimulation of Jurkat T cells, consistent with its ability to inhibit Jurkat T cell proliferation and secretion of IL-2. CONCLUSION:: Silymarin's ability to inhibit the proliferation and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion of T cells, combined with its previously described anti-viral effect suggests a possible mechanism of action that could lead to clinical benefit during HCV infection."

[Bill1954]

I personally feel that there are things we still need to learn about milk thistle (silymarin). Some doctors don’t object to it, while others are adamantly against its use while on treatment. It won’t cure you any faster or better, and you’re already taking one the of the most powerful anti inflammatory drugs known; interferon.

Bottom line, discuss any new product in advance with your doctor—

Bill

[nygirl7]

Do NOT take milk thistle while on treatment as it can hurt the efficacy of the medications.

In fact unless you know for a fact (that the supplement has been studied thoroughly for reactions to interferon and ribavirin) that it won't hurt anything it's definitely better safe than sorry.