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Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) and Blood sugar / diabetes support: evidence and sources
Improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes - lowers fasting blood glucose and HbA1c
For educational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants, especially alongside prescribed medication, during pregnancy, or for a serious condition.
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Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and nephropathy-now the leading cause of end-stage renal disease and dialysis in Europe and the United States. Inflammation and oxidative stress play a pivotal role in the development of diabetic complications. Silymarin, an herbal drug with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may improve glycemic control and prevent the progression of the complications. In a systematic review and meta-analysis including five randomized controlled trials and 270 patients, routine silymarin administration determines a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels (-26.86 mg/dL; 95% CI -35.42-18.30) and HbA1c levels (-1.07; 95% CI -1.73-0.40) and has no effect on lipid profile. Benefits for silymarin on proteinuria and CKD progressions are reported in only one small study and are uncertain. However, being aware of the low quality of the available evidence and elevated heterogeneity of these studies, no recommendation can be made and further studies are needed.
1 source supporting Milk Thistle for Blood sugar / diabetes support. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's antidiabetic (blood-sugar lowering) action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
Metabolic syndrome describes a complex metabolic risk factors including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. This syndrome is diagnosed by medical conditions such as weight gain, high blood pressure, high blood glucose, and disturbance in lipid profile. Metabolic syndrome has become as an important and increasing global health problem, so finding potentially novel solutions with less adverse effects is favorable for health problems. Herbal therapy plays an important role for treatment of different diseases. Silybum marianum is a plant that is used for centuries as a herbal treatment in liver and biliary tract diseases. Silymarin is the main component of S. marianum and derived from fruits and seeds of S. marianum (milk thistle). S. marianum has been found to exhibit antioxidant, lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antiatherosclerotic, anti-obesity, and hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize different animal and human studies regarding the effect of S. marianum in metabolic syndrome and to identify the underlying mechanisms of action.