The effect of silymarin on liver enzymes and serum lipid profiles in Iranian patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A double-blind randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of silymarin on liver enzyme levels and serum lipid profiles in patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), the most common chronic liver disease worldwide.
 Methods: This randomized double-blinded clinical trial included 80 NAFLD patients referred to the gastrointestinal clinic of Kowsar Hospital in Semnan. Forty of these patients were supplemented with 150 mg of silymarin twice a day for two months, while the other 40 received a placebo. Both groups were advised to follow a hypertriglyceridemia correction and lifestyle modification. Evaluation of serum lipid profiles and liver enzymes in both groups were performed at the baseline and after two months.
 Results: The results showed that silymarin use significantly reduced ALT (U/L) (58.72± 32.16 vs 42.2 ± 20.2, p = 0.003) and AST (U/L) (36.62± 13.46 vs 30.3 ± 9.7, p = 0.036) levels compared with the placebo group. Additionally, a statistically significant reducing effect of silymarin on triglycerides (mg/dL) (189.5 ± 65.5 vs 164.6 ± 91.3, p = 0.026), total cholesterol (mg/dL) (192.8 ± 40.3 vs 174.07± 34.5, p = 0.027), and LDL-cholesterol (mg/dL) (114.6±33.9 vs 95.6± 26.5, p = 0.012) levels was found, with no significant statistical difference for HDL-C (mg/dL) (41.5 ± 6.8 vs 43.5± 9.2, p = 0.44).
 Conclusion: Silymarin, at a dose of 150 mg twice daily, significantly reduced liver enzymes and some lipid markers in patients with NAFLD, suggesting that this compound could be a novel therapy for NAFLD.