Milk thistle

Indication: Diabetes

Source: Phytotherapy Research, October 30, 2006;published online ahead of print.

Research: Researchers conducted a study on 51 diabetics to determine the effects of milk thistle, and specifically an active constituent (flavolignans), on blood glucose levels. The first group of 25 subjects received a silymarin tablet (200 mg) 3 times a day plus conventional therapy. The second group of 26 subjects received the same therapy, but a placebo tablet instead of silymarin. The patients were visited monthly and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBS), insulin, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL, triglyceride, SGOT and SGPT levels were determined at the beginning and the end of the study.

Results: There were significant decreases in HbA1c, FBS, total cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride, SGOT and SGPT levels in silymarin-treated patients compared with placebo as well as with values at the beginning of the study in each group. Researchers concluded that the silymarin treatment in type II diabetic patients for four months had a beneficial effect on improving the glycemic profile.