Silymarin: what it is and what milk thistle does

Silymarin (in Spanish, silimarina) is a group of flavonoids taken from the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum). The plant has been known for centuries and is almost always associated with the liver. Here we explain what it is, where it comes from, what the labels of the products that contain it say and how to read the bottle.

What milk thistle is

Milk thistle, also known as Mary's thistle, is a plant with spiny leaves, purple flowers and white sap. It is native to Europe and Asia, and today it is also grown in the Americas. Silymarin is concentrated from its seeds.

What silymarin is

Silymarin is a plant-based antioxidant. On the bottle it usually appears as "standardized milk thistle extract," with the percentage of silymarin it contains. Milk thistle is the plant; silymarin is the group of compounds taken from its seed.

What the labels say

This is what two of the milk thistle bottles we carry in our store have printed on the front:

• Futurebiotics Silymarin Plus: "Standardized Milk Thistle Extract with Co-Factors" and "Nutritionally Supports Healthy Liver Function*". Vegetarian formula, 60 tablets.
• Nature's Way Milk Thistle: "Supports Liver Function & Detox Pathways*" and "80% Silymarin". 60 vegan capsules.

If you'd like to see more options, they are in Liver Products.

How to read the bottle

• What to look for: milk thistle extract with standardized silymarin. Many labels state the percentage, like the 80% on the Nature's Way bottle.
• Alone or with other herbs: some bottles have only milk thistle and others combine it with other plants, like Silymarin Plus, which has it "with co-factors." The supplement facts panel says what each one contains.

Frequently asked questions

Are milk thistle, silimarina and silymarin the same thing?
Almost. Silimarina is the Spanish name for silymarin. Milk thistle is the plant and silymarin is what is taken from its seed.

What does "standardized" mean?
That the manufacturer adjusts the extract so each serving has the same amount of silymarin, and states it on the label as a percentage.

For more details, call us at 787-304-0458.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.