Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has a long history of traditional use, particularly for liver health and related metabolic functions. In many traditional systems, such as European herbal medicine, milk thistle seeds have been used for centuries to "cleanse" or "detoxify" the liver, which is central to various metabolic processes, including fat metabolism. The active component, silymarin, is believed to have hepatoprotective effects, supporting the liver's role in breaking down fats and removing toxins. Some traditional practices associate improved liver function with better fat metabolism, though this linkage is based more on holistic or empirical observation than on modern biomedical understanding.

Scientific evidence for milk thistle's direct effect on fat metabolism is limited. While there are some animal and in vitro studies suggesting that silymarin may influence lipid profiles and fat accumulation in the liver, high-quality human trials are scarce. Most research focuses on its ability to protect against liver damage rather than specifically improving poor fat metabolism. Therefore, while the traditional use of milk thistle for general liver and metabolic health is well documented, robust scientific evidence supporting its efficacy for directly treating poor fat metabolism is lacking. Thus, its use for this purpose is justified by tradition, with a moderate (2/5) evidence rating based on limited supportive data.

More about Milk thistle
More about Fat Metabolism (poor)

Other ingredients used for Fat Metabolism (poor)

Other health conditions supported by Milk thistle

Products containing Milk thistle

Pure Encapsulations AntiOxidant Formula
Metagenics Axis Endo™ Mango
Integrative Therapeutics Detoxication Factors
Integrative Therapeutics Detoxication Factors
Pure Encapsulations Digestion GB
Pure Encapsulations Digestion GB
Pure Encapsulations DIM Detox
Designs For Health Hepatatone Plus™
Vitabase Life's Essentials Plus
Designs For Health Liposomal B Supreme
Integrative Therapeutics Lipotropic Complex
Pure Encapsulations Lipotropic Detox
Thorne Liver Cleanse
Pure Encapsulations Liver G.I. Detox
Designs For Health LV-GB Complex™
Pure Encapsulations LVR Formula
Pure Encapsulations LVR Formula
Thorne MediClear Plus
Designs For Health Milk Thistle
Douglas Laboratories Milk Thistle Max-V
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™ Detox Program
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™Chocolate Detox Kit
Metagenics PhytoGanix® Tropical Fruit
Designs For Health Plant Protein Cleanse
Designs For Health Plant Protein Cleanse Plus™ 570g
Thorne S.A.T.
Thorne Siliphos Milk Thistle
Pure Encapsulations Silymarin
Pure Encapsulations Silymarin
Metagenics Silymarin 80™
Douglas Laboratories Silymarin/Milk Thistle Extract
Pure Encapsulations SP Ultimate
Pure Encapsulations SP Ultimate
Integrative Therapeutics Super Milk Thistle X
Pure Encapsulations Ultra Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations UltraDetox 10-Day Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations UltraNutrient®
Pure Encapsulations UltraNutrient®
Pure Encapsulations UltraNutrient®
Vitabase Vision Support