Milk Thistle Seed Preparation

Significance

• Milk thistle seeds are prepared in a capsule form or an infusion before they are given to the patient. Most often an alcohol or glycerin extract is part of the preparation.

Function

• The active ingredient in milk seed thistle is silymarin, which acts as both an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. Medical research has shown silymarin can help people with diabetes by decreasing blood sugar levels.

Considerations

• More research is needed before a verdict can be made on the efficacy of milk thistle seeds and silymarin. Some early studies show benefits in people with liver damage, while other studies show no benefit at all.