Health Hotline Magazine | October 2025

Protect Your Brain with Milk Thistle The brain is especially vulnerable to oxidative stress and inflammation, which are directly connected to accelerated brain aging, an increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and mood disorders. Because milk thistle is such an e ective antioxidant, scientists have begun to investigate its e ect on brain health, particularly looking at silymarin’s potential as a neuroprotective agent in various brain disorders, including neurodegenerative and mood disorders. The results are promising. A 2024 study investigating silymarin’s e ect on biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and disease severity in 33 Alzheimer’s patients found that silymarin, when taken in conjunction with the standard medication, significantly decreased oxidative stress and improved cognitive function. The dose of silymarin was 150mg, three times daily. The researchers concluded, “Silymarin can be e ective as an adjunct drug and powerful antioxidant in reducing oxidative stress and improving the course of AD.” In addition to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection, research has also shown that silymarin inhibits the aggregation of amyloid beta proteins, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. In a 2017 study, researchers found that silymarin restored normal levels of antioxidants, including glutathione, and reduced markers of oxidative stress in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex in a rodent model of depression. It also reduced markers of inflammation in those same brain regions. Research has also shown that silymarin can restore levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine in the hippocampus and cerebral cortexes of depressed rodents (these neurotransmitters are typically depleted in cases of depression). And finally, silymarin upregulates the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a critical role in neurogenesis (the growth of new neurons) and brain plasticity, or the brain’s ability to grow and change—essential for learning and memory.

And There’s More! In addition to liver, skin, and brain health, research is discovering that milk thistle is truly a whole-body health hero. Studies investigating silymarin’s e ect on metabolic health markers in type-2 diabetics and non-diabetic obesity have found that it significantly improves glycemic control and insulin resistance, while reducing triglyceride and total cholesterol levels. Doses range from 420mg to 600mg daily. Studies have also found that milk thistle can relieve pain from rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. A 2024 clinical trial including 122 subjects with rheumatoid arthritis tested the e cacy of milk thistle taken as an adjunct therapy with their prescribed antirheumatic drugs. The subjects took either 375mg of milk thistle extract daily (providing 300mg silymarin) or a placebo for eight weeks. After eight weeks, the milk thistle group showed significant improvements in tender and swollen joints, pain, and morning sti ness, while the control group’s symptoms worsened. Fatigue, depression, and anxiety scores also improved among those taking milk thistle. An earlier study found that 300mg of silymarin taken daily for eight weeks significantly reduced inflammatory markers in people with knee osteoarthritis, used alone, or in combination with NSAIDs. Do you su er from menopausal hot flashes? Milk thistle may help! A 2020 study including 80 menopausal women experiencing hot flashes found that taking 400mg milk thistle extract daily for 12 weeks led to a significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of hot flashes, as well as an improvement in overall quality of life. As you can see, milk thistle’s benefits go far beyond liver

health. With its potent antioxidant capabilities and its anti-inflammatory e ects, this herb truly is an everyday health hero that we all can benefit from!

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For references, please visit naturalgrocers.com/issue-99