Milk Thistle

Powerful liver-protective herb containing silymarin that supports liver detoxification, regeneration, and overall hepatic health

Scientific nameSilybum marianum FormulaC25H22O10 (Silymarin) Molecular weight482.44 g/mol CAS65666-07-1

10 absorption score

9 safety / 10

20 USD per month

5 documented interactions

Check it against something

Evidence level A

Milk Thistle with:

82 out of 100

Works better together Compatible. Timing differs, so follow each supplement's own window.

Check it against your whole stack →

What it does

mechanism and evidence for each claim

Liver protection and regeneration

Protects liver cells and supports liver regeneration

Silymarin stabilizes cell membranes and promotes hepatocyte regeneration Evidence A-grade 4-12 weeks

Enhanced liver detoxification

Supports liver detoxification pathways and enzyme function

Increases glutathione production and phase II detoxification Evidence A-grade 2-8 weeks

Antioxidant protection for liver

Provides powerful antioxidant protection to liver tissue

Silymarin acts as potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger Evidence A-grade 2-6 weeks

Improved liver enzyme levels

May help normalize elevated liver enzymes

Reduces liver inflammation and cellular damage Evidence A-grade 6-16 weeks

Support for fatty liver

May help with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Improves lipid metabolism and reduces liver fat accumulation Evidence B-grade 12-24 weeks

Others take these for the same thing

Same goal, different mechanism — check any of them against this one

Turmeric Anti-inflammatory & antioxidant 300-1000mg A 3% Glutathione Master antioxidant & detox support 250-750mg B 20% Astaxanthin Superior antioxidant & skin protection 4-12mg B 20% SAM-e Mood support & liver health 400-800mg A 70% Plant Collagen Vegan collagen support & antioxidants 2-5g C 70% Quercetin Immune support & allergy relief 500-1000mg B 5%

Every pair we checked

12 combinations scored by the engine

Milk Thistle + Caffeine No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Milk Thistle + Creatine Monohydrate No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Milk Thistle + Vitamin D3 No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Milk Thistle + Calcium Carbonate No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Milk Thistle + Whey Protein No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Milk Thistle + Lactase No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Milk Thistle + Bovine Collagen No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Milk Thistle + DHA No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Milk Thistle + Turmeric No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Milk Thistle + Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) Enhanced liver antioxidant protection Works better together 78

Milk Thistle + NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine) Enhanced liver detoxification and glutathione production Works better together 82

Milk Thistle + Phosphatidylcholine Enhanced absorption and liver membrane support Works better together 82

Dosage

With meals

Daily150-400mg silymarin

Liver protection150-300mg silymarin daily

Liver disease support200-600mg silymarin daily

Detoxification150-300mg silymarin daily

Therapeutic400-800mg silymarin daily

When to expect it

First Effects2-4 weeks for liver enzyme improvement

Peak Benefits8-16 weeks for sustained liver protection and regeneration

Deficiency DevelopmentGradual increase in liver stress and oxidative damage

Toxicity OnsetVery rare, excellent safety profile

How to measure it

$60-120

MarkerLiver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT)

OptimalNormal liver enzyme levels

Deficient belowNot applicable for supplement

FrequencyEvery 3-6 months for liver health monitoring

What people actually reported to the FDA

CAERS, 97 reports naming it as the suspect

Most reported effects

Dyspnoea 10

Nausea 10

Hypersensitivity 10

Vomiting 10

Abdominal pain upper 9

Named as the suspect 97 reports of 207 that mention it at all

Serious outcome 85% hospitalisation, emergency room or worse

Other Serious or Important Medical Event62

Hospitalization34

Visited Emergency Room28

Reports are voluntary and unverified — they record what someone experienced while taking something, not what the compound caused. Counts skew towards products people take a lot of, and a serious outcome is more likely to be reported than a mild one, so these are not rates. How we filter them →

What actually reaches you

The label counts the carrier, your body does not

Absorption Very low 10 of 100 · little of the dose reaches the bloodstream

Delivered daily 27.5 mg

Cost per 100 mg delivered $2.42 comparative — uses the absorption score, not a measured percentage

Works better with

3 documented

Nac

Enhanced liver detoxification and glutathione production

Both support glutathione synthesis and liver protection · level A

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Enhanced liver antioxidant protection

Both provide complementary antioxidant effects for liver · level B

Phosphatidylcholine

Enhanced absorption and liver membrane support

PC improves silymarin absorption and supports cell membranes · level A

What not to take with Milk Thistle

2 documented

Alcohol Excess

Alcohol overwhelms liver protective effects

Excessive alcohol causes liver damage faster than protection · major significance

Hepatotoxic Medications

Liver-toxic drugs may overwhelm protective effects

High toxic load may exceed protective capacity · moderate significance

Medication interactions

Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining

diabetes-medications Minor

May enhance blood sugar lowering effects

What to do: Monitor blood glucose levels

cytochrome-p450-substrates Minor

May affect metabolism of some medications

What to do: Monitor drug levels if needed

no-major-interactions None

Generally no significant drug interactions

What to do: Safe with most medications

Available forms

bioavailability compared

Standardized Silymarin Extract (80% silymarin) 40

Silymarin Phytosome (with Phosphatidylcholine) 85

Standardized Silymarin Extract (80% silymarin): Liver protection, Well-researched, Excellent safety, Standardized

Silymarin Phytosome (with Phosphatidylcholine): Much better absorption, Enhanced bioavailability, Lower doses needed, Faster onset

Food sources

before you supplement

Milk thistle seeds Natural source for supplements · 30

Not found in common foods Supplementation required · N/A

Milk thistle tea Low concentration of actives · 20

Milk thistle supplements 150-600mg silymarin per capsule · 40-85

Too little

deficiency signs

Elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST)
Poor liver detoxification capacity
Increased susceptibility to liver damage
Fatty liver accumulation
Poor tolerance to alcohol or medications
Increased oxidative stress in liver
Slow liver healing and regeneration

Too much

toxicity signs

Excellent safety profile:
Mild digestive upset with high doses
Rare allergic reactions in ragweed-sensitive individuals
Possible mild blood sugar lowering
Generally very well tolerated

Who benefits most

liver-disease-hepatitis

Excellent for liver protection and supporting liver health

200-400mg silymarin daily

fatty-liver-nafld

May help with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

200-600mg silymarin daily

liver-detox-cleanse

Supports liver detoxification and cleansing processes

150-300mg silymarin daily

alcohol-liver-protection

May help protect liver from alcohol-related damage

200-400mg silymarin daily

medication-liver-stress

May protect liver from medication-induced stress

150-300mg silymarin daily

Where to buy it

compare forms first

Look for Milk Thistle at 150-400mg silymarin per serving. The form that matters here is Standardized Silymarin Extract (80% silymarin).

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What else affects it

Beyond other supplements

Alcohol excess

Alcohol overwhelms liver protective effects

Excessive alcohol causes liver damage faster than protection

How it works

Silymarin stabilizes hepatocyte cell membranes protecting from toxins
Increases glutathione production enhancing liver detoxification
Potent antioxidant effects protect liver from oxidative damage
Stimulates protein synthesis promoting liver cell regeneration
Anti-inflammatory effects reduce liver inflammation
May inhibit fibrosis and scarring in liver tissue

Key findings

what the evidence supports

Strong evidence for liver protection and hepatitis support
Effective for improving liver enzyme levels
Excellent safety profile with minimal side effects
Phytosome form has much better bioavailability

Sources: NIH Examine.com · data reviewed 2026-08-02

Compiled by Denis, who maintains this database and holds no medical qualification — every figure here is sourced or derived, never asserted. How we calculate it →

Common questions

What are the benefits of Milk Thistle?

Documented effects: Liver protection and regeneration; Enhanced liver detoxification; Antioxidant protection for liver; Improved liver enzyme levels. Protects liver cells and supports liver regeneration

How much Milk Thistle should you take per day?

The common daily range is 150-400mg silymarin. By goal — liver protection: 150-300mg silymarin daily; liver disease support: 200-600mg silymarin daily; detoxification: 150-300mg silymarin daily; therapeutic: 400-800mg silymarin daily.

When is the best time to take Milk Thistle?

With meals. First effects are typically reported within 2-4 weeks for liver enzyme improvement.

What are the side effects of Milk Thistle?

At excessive doses: Excellent safety profile:, Mild digestive upset with high doses, Rare allergic reactions in ragweed-sensitive individuals, Possible mild blood sugar lowering, Generally very well tolerated. Safety rating at normal doses is 9 out of 10.

What should you not take with Milk Thistle?

Separate it from Alcohol Excess, Hepatotoxic Medications by two to four hours. Alcohol overwhelms liver protective effects

Does Milk Thistle interact with medications?

Documented interactions with diabetes-medications, cytochrome-p450-substrates, no-major-interactions. Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining.

How do you know if you need Milk Thistle?

The marker is Liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT), optimal range Normal liver enzyme levels. Common deficiency signs: Elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST), Poor liver detoxification capacity, Increased susceptibility to liver damage, Fatty liver accumulation.

Taken for

49 Liver & Detox

Turmeric · Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) · D-Mannose