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Does Milk Thistle Help In Curing Liver Damage?
Question: does milk thistle really help your liver repair some damage that has been done from hvc
I have Ra and am taking methotrexate and acetaminophen for the pain
I have Ra and am taking methotrexate and acetaminophen for the pain
Brief Answer:
its not proven
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HealthcareMagic.
I have read your query and understand your concern.
Silymarin is the main active ingredient in milk thistle. Silymarin is both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It’s unclear what benefits, if any, this may have in the body.
A 2012 clinical trial, cofunded by NCCAM and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, showed that two higher-than-usual doses of silymarin were no better than placebo for chronic hepatitis C in people who had not responded to standard antiviral treatment.
The 2008 Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), found that hepatitis C patients who used silymarin had fewer and milder symptoms of liver disease and somewhat better quality of life but no change in virus activity or liver inflammation.
So as of today, the benefits has not been conclusively proven, though it is being used for liver problems for over 2000 years.
Also, methotrexate can cause liver damage if taken for a long period of time, specially in a case of liver cirrhosis by hcv. But the dose given for RA is very very low to cause any harm to the liver. Still you inform your treating doctor about it. As it all depends upon the status of your liver as will be evident after a liver function test.
And as per FDA latest guidelines, acetaminophen dose above 325mg causes liver toxicity. So do check with your doctor regarding this too.
Hope i have been helpful.
Regards,
Dr. Ashish Verma
its not proven
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HealthcareMagic.
I have read your query and understand your concern.
Silymarin is the main active ingredient in milk thistle. Silymarin is both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It’s unclear what benefits, if any, this may have in the body.
A 2012 clinical trial, cofunded by NCCAM and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, showed that two higher-than-usual doses of silymarin were no better than placebo for chronic hepatitis C in people who had not responded to standard antiviral treatment.
The 2008 Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), found that hepatitis C patients who used silymarin had fewer and milder symptoms of liver disease and somewhat better quality of life but no change in virus activity or liver inflammation.
So as of today, the benefits has not been conclusively proven, though it is being used for liver problems for over 2000 years.
Also, methotrexate can cause liver damage if taken for a long period of time, specially in a case of liver cirrhosis by hcv. But the dose given for RA is very very low to cause any harm to the liver. Still you inform your treating doctor about it. As it all depends upon the status of your liver as will be evident after a liver function test.
And as per FDA latest guidelines, acetaminophen dose above 325mg causes liver toxicity. So do check with your doctor regarding this too.
Hope i have been helpful.
Regards,
Dr. Ashish Verma
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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