Effects and tolerance of silymarin (milk thistle) in chronic hepatitis C virus infection patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#administration-oral #drug-related-side-effects-and-adverse-reactions #evidence-based-medicine #hepatitis-c-chronic #humans

Effects and tolerance of silymarin (milk thistle) in chronic hepatitis C virus infection patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Yang et al., 2014 | Biomed Res Int | Meta Analysis

Citation

Yang Zongguo, Zhuang Liping, ... Chen Xiaorong. Effects and tolerance of silymarin (milk thistle) in chronic hepatitis C virus infection patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:941085. doi:10.1155/2014/941085

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of silymarin on chronic hepatitis C virus- (HCV-) infected patients. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of silymarin in chronic HCV-infected patients up to April 1, 2014 were systematically identified in PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. RESULTS: A total of 222 and 167 patients in five RCTs were randomly treated with silymarin (or intravenous silibinin) and placebo, respectively. Serum HCV RNA relatively decreased in patients treated with silymarin compared with those administered with placebo, but no significance was found (P = 0.09). Meta-analysis of patients orally treated with silymarin indicated that the changes of HCV RNA are similar in the two groups (P = 0.19). The effect on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of oral silymarin is not different from that of placebo (P = 0.45). Improvements in quality-of-life (Short Form-36) in both silymarin and placebo recipients were impressive but relatively identical (P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: Silymarin is well tolerated in chronic HCV-infected patients. However, no evidence of salutary effects of oral silymarin has yet been reported based on intermediate endpoints (ALT and HCV RNA) in this population. Moreover, intravenous administration of silymarin should be further studied.

Key Findings

A total of 222 and 167 patients in five RCTs were randomly treated with silymarin (or intravenous silibinin) and placebo, respectively. Serum HCV RNA relatively decreased in patients treated with silymarin compared with those administered with placebo, but no significance was found (P = 0.09). Meta-analysis of patients orally treated with silymarin indicated that the changes of HCV RNA are similar in the two groups (P = 0.19). The effect on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of oral silymarin is not

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 167
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Silybum marianum
  • Phytotherapy
  • Prevalence
  • Quality of Life
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Risk Assessment
  • Silymarin
  • Treatment Outcome

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review
  • Vertical: milk-thistle-liver

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09