Super silymarin: love your liver, lower blood sugar, and much more with this compound from milk thistle.(SHOP SMART: SUPPLEMENTS)

THE BASICS: Silymarin has traditionally been used as a remedy for liver disorders but has benefits in the treatment of diabetes, cancer, and toxic chemical exposures. It is the antioxidant extract from the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) and is far more potent than the whole seeds or unprocessed plant. Chemists classify silymarin as a flavonolignan, and it consists of several compounds, including silybin.

ALIAS: Silymarin supplements are sold in the form of standardized products, as well as in the form of milk thistle. It has been used for at least 2,000 years, including in ancient Greece and Rome.

HOW SILYMARIN WORKS: Silymarin works through several different mechanisms. First, as an antioxidant it quenches cell-damaging free radicals. Second, it suppresses the activity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6, and therefore has anti-inflammatory properties. Third, it has cytoprotective (cell-protecting) benefits that have been demonstrated specifically in liver, pancreas, kidney, and brain cells.

HEALTH BENEFITS: Many of the benefits of silymarin center around its ability to maintain and enhance normal liver function.

* Liver disease. Silymarin has frequently been used to treat the liver complications of alcoholism, including cirrhosis. Excessive intake of alcohol or pharmaceutical drugs (including acetaminophen) injures liver cells and impairs liver function. In addition, obesity increases the risk of steatosis (fatty liver), which can impair this organ's ability to break down chemicals. Chronic liver infections, such as hepatitis, also reduce liver function. Silymarin protects the liver by reducing inflammation, enhancing production of glutathione (an antioxidant), and stimulating the production of new liver cells by accelerating protein and DNA synthesis. Note: When liver cells are damaged, certain enzymes can leak out and enter the bloodstream. Elevated levels of these enzymes usually indicate liver damage.

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* Diabetes. The liver works with the pancreas to regulate blood sugar, and elevated blood sugar levels (characteristic of diabetes) may reflect reduced function of both organs. Three studies of people with type 2 diabetes have found that silymarin supplements can help improve blood sugar and other markers of glucose intolerance. In one of the studies, 51 patients received 200 mg of silymarin daily for four months. The supplements led to a 15 percent decrease in blood sugar, a 25 percent drop in fasting insulin levels, and a 13 percent decrease in glycated hemoglobin levels. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) reflects a six-week average blood sugar level. Another study found a 20 percent decrease in fasting blood sugar, a 37 percent decline in postprandial blood sugar, and a 16 percent decrease in HbA1c--plus an 8.5 percent reduction in weight. One other study found improvements in all markers of diabetes over the course of a year.