What it is & primary uses
Silybum marianum extracts contain silymarin and are marketed for liver protection.
Main benefits
- Some trials report changes in liver enzymes.
- Reviews do not establish reliable improvement in liver disease outcomes, and products vary.
Studied protocols
Research doses are grouped by outcome. They describe study designs—not a personal prescription.
200–420 mg/day silymarin in many trials
- Study duration
- Commonly 4–12 weeks; protocol and outcome vary
- Interpretation
- Reviews do not establish reliable improvement in liver disease outcomes, and products vary.
04Food sources & equivalents＋
Can food provide a studied amount?
Milk-thistle seed extract can provide related dietary exposure, but food and extract milligrams are not automatically interchangeable.
Dietary exposure; verify composition before comparing with a studied supplement dose
- How this was estimated
- Dose Radar compares the declared active ingredient with official composition data or the studied standardized extract—not with marketing names.
- Important limitation
- Natural content, preparation, bioavailability and formulation vary. This comparison does not prove equal physiological effect.
Food equivalents compare ingredient mass using published composition values. They do not prove equal absorption, formulation, physiological effect, safety or personal need.
Source: NCCIH milk thistle evidence summary ↗05How to take it for absorption & tolerance＋
With food
Food commonly improves gastrointestinal tolerance, although it can change absorption for some ingredients.
- Practical approach
- With food, divided. Keep the formulation and daily total consistent with the evidence context shown above.
- Watch for
- Glucose-lowering medicines
Meal guidance reflects human pharmacokinetic, clinical, official-label or evidence-review sources where available. A food pairing can change absorption or tolerability, but does not make a supplement necessary, effective or safe for every person.
Source: NCCIH milk thistle evidence summary ↗06Supplement interaction check＋
An unlisted pair means no established pair-specific interaction was identified in this review—not proof that every dose, product or person is safe.
This is not proof that every dose, product or user context is safe. Medication and condition checks still apply.
07Research notes＋
Insufficient evidence for the stated context. Reviews do not establish reliable improvement in liver disease outcomes, and products vary.
The displayed amount comes from human research or an official evidence summary. It is not a personalized prescription, and formulation can change whether the comparison is valid.
08Scientific references＋
Peer-reviewed human research and formal evidence reviews. Open each source to inspect the complete paper record.
NCCIH milk thistle evidence summary
Dose context: 200–420 mg/day silymarin in many trials
Some trials report changes in liver enzymes. Reviews do not establish reliable improvement in liver disease outcomes, and products vary.
Milk Thistle: live PubMed review search
Dose context: Ingredient-specific human literature; dose and formulation vary
This live index supports source verification. A new paper does not change the Dose Radar grade until its design, population and formulation are reviewed.
09Expert & media references＋
Podcast and practitioner statements are clearly separated from research. They may explain practice or emerging ideas, but do not prove efficacy.
Dose Radar will leave this lane empty rather than invent or infer a professional opinion.