Milk Thistle 40% Liver-Protection Efficacy Leap with LipoAvail™, Studies Explained
2025-04-17 | Irene
The current liver health situation globally is concerning, with liver diseases contributing to approximately 2 million deaths annually, imposing significant burdens on individuals and society. Conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are on the rise, driven by obesity and metabolic syndrome[1]. Viral hepatitis and alcohol-associated liver disease also remain major health issues[1].
Given these challenges, there is a growing interest in liver protection supplements. Mike Thistle is one of the most popular choices for liver detox supplements. They often claim to support liver health by aiding detoxification and promoting liver cell regeneration. New research finds that these ingredients can be more effective in liver protection, as most of the market-available options seem to have absorption challenges, and thus fall short of the claim.
What is Milk Thistle?
The milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum) is a Mediterranean native plant. Milk thistle can be easily recognized by its distinctive features: spiny green leaves with purple flower heads. People named it after the milky white veins on the leaves and the white sap they produce when broken.
Silymarin: The Natural Guardian of Liver Health.
Historically, milk thistle has been used for centuries to treat liver-related issues [2]. Studies in recent years revealed that the main active compound within milk thistle is silymarin.
Silymarin is the generic name for a large group of flavonoids in milk thistle extracts, which consists of four major groups: silybin, silydianin, silychristin, and isosilybin. Of these, silibinin has the highest content percentage and is the most active.
Figure 1: Molecular structure of the main components of silymarin
It is believed to exert health benefits through its antioxidant properties, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. Additionally, research suggests that benefits include anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, lipid-lowering, and anti-radiation effects [3].
Studies have shown that silymarin is effective in improving a variety of liver health problems, which are related to its properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and regulation of insulin resistance [4-6]:
- Antioxidant: The liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing various substances and detoxifying harmful compounds, a process that generates reactive oxygen species that may lead to oxidative stress. Silymarin promotes the production of the antioxidant “glutathione” in the liver, which effectively scavenges reactive oxygen species and enhances the antioxidant capacity of liver tissue [4,5];
- Antiviral: Silymarin can prevent toxic substances from entering hepatocytes, bind with phospholipids on the hepatocyte membrane to form a protective film, maintain the integrity of the hepatocyte membrane, and achieve a protective effect on hepatocytes [6].
- Anti-fibrosis: Silymarin can slow down or reverse the process of liver fibrosis through excessive deposition of collagen fibers, building a solid defense for liver health.
40% Boost in Liver Protection — Backed by Science
Many are choosing milk thistle for liver protection. However, these supplements can be disappointing in delivering liver protection health benefits. This is because of the key limitation of silymarin — its poor absorption rate. The compound is not easily absorbed in the human digestive system due to its low water solubility, which reduces its effectiveness when taken orally.
Further complicating matters is the “first-pass effect,” a metabolic hurdle in which the liver extensively breaks down silymarin before it enters systemic circulation. This not only diminishes the amount of active compound available to protect liver cells but also necessitates higher doses to achieve the claimed effects. Such high dosing increases production costs, raises consumer prices, and places additional strain on the digestive system—a paradoxical burden for a supplement marketed as protective. As a result, many milk thistle supplements may not deliver full liver protection benefits.
The emergence of LipoAvail™ liposome technology has successfully solved these challenges and taken the efficacy of silymarin to new heights. Liposomes are tiny vesicles made up of lipid materials, such as phospholipids, that can encapsulate silymarin. It is this unique structure that makes silymarin substantially more soluble and more easily absorbed by the body.
The excellent properties of LipoAvail™ liposomal silymarin have led to its considerable performance in improving liver antioxidant capacity and lowering transaminase levels. To further explore the enhancement effect of LipoAvail™ liposomal silymarin, we have conducted a series of rigorous animal experiments, using serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alanine aminotransferase (AST) as the main indexes (ALT and AST are sensitive indicators of hepatocyte damage), and combining with liver tissue sections, focusing on the protective effect on the liver and its ability to withstand hepatic injury (liver injury).
Proven Hepatoprotective Ability (Liver-Protection Ability)
Previous studies have shown that when the liver is damaged, AST and ALT in the body’s hepatocytes (liver cells) will be released into the bloodstream, resulting in increased serum concentrations of AST and ALT. After 15 days of administering various samples alongside liver-damaging agents, researchers measured serum AST and ALT* levels in mice to detect the effectiveness of liver injury protection. LipoAvail™ Liposomal Silymarin showed the most substantial hepatoprotective effect, reducing ALT by 41.72% and AST by 44.3% compared to the regular silymarin group—an overall improvement of approximately 40% in liver protection.
Figure 2: ALT and AST blood concentrations comparison
Histological analysis supported these findings: while silymarin alone reduced liver damage markers such as interstitial space and vacuolization, the liposomal formulation provided significantly greater protection, indicating LipoAvail™ Liposomal Silymarin as the most effective intervention among the market-available silymarin products and regular ones.
Figure 3: Hepatocyte sections of mice in different groups.
Targeting Antioxidants From the Source
To further investigate the liver protection mechanism of LipoAvail™ liposomal silymarin, we have conducted a series of in vitro antioxidant experiments to evaluate and compare the antioxidant capacity of silymarin comprehensively, LipoAvail™ liposomal silymarin and friendly silymarin products, using the scavenging efficiency of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anion radicals as the indexes. Silymarin, LipoAvail™ liposomal silymarin, and a friendly silymarin product were comprehensively evaluated and compared in terms of their antioxidant capacity.
The results showed that the scavenging efficiency of silymarin, LipoAvail™ liposomal silymarin, and silymarin increased with the increase of silymarin concentration for the three free radicals. Among them, the scavenging efficiency of LipoAvail™ liposomal silymarin was more significant, indicating that it has stronger antioxidant capacity. The positive correlation between the antioxidant capacity of the functional ingredients and the liver protection effect demonstrates that LipoAvail™ liposomal silymarin offers a new, efficient, and reliable option for liver protection, enabling sustainable cost reduction and efficiency improvement. LipoAvail™ provides a more effective liver-protection experience.
Figure 4: Free radical scavenging efficiency comparison
Standing Out in the Crowded Market
The liver, as the body’s “critical metabolic organ,” shoulders multiple missions, including detoxification, transformation, and synthesis. Once the liver’s function is impaired, it will not only jeopardize people’s health but also seriously affect their lives and work. The liver health market is expanding rapidly, driven by rising occurrences of liver-related diseases and increasing health awareness about liver health, with an estimated USD 14.57 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2025 to 2030 [7]. Milk thistle is one of the herbal ingredients driving this trend [7].
When choosing liver care products, more consumers are no longer simply paying for supplements with “liver-detox” or “liver-cleansing” claims. However, they are seeking more efficient, safe, and easily absorbed products. With its efficient and precise technology, LipoAvail™ Liposomes has further stimulated the health potential of silymarin, a natural “liver protection ingredient”. In terms of application, LipoAvail™ liposomal silymarin is water-soluble and more compatible for use in various dosage forms, including powders, tablets, hard capsules, and soft gels. Consumers no longer need to swallow multiple capsules to achieve the desired liver protection effect, resulting in a more user-friendly experience.
Figure: LipoAvail™ liposomal silymarin is more water-soluble than regular silymarin.
In the future, it is believed that LipoAvail™ liposomal technology will enable more raw materials to overcome the limitations of bioavailability and application, such as curcumin, vitamin C, iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. It will provide a solid foundation for the research and development of more diversified and scientifically-proven effective nutrient and health products.
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*AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) are common biomarkers used to assess liver health. When liver damage occurs, these enzymes are released from hepatocytes (liver cells) into the bloodstream, leading to elevated serum levels. An abnormal rise in AST and ALT is a typical indication of liver injury or dysfunction.
References
[1] Gan, C., Yuan, Y., Shen, H., Gao, J., Kong, X., Che, Z., Guo, Y., Wang, H., Dong, E., & Xiao, J. (2025). Liver diseases: epidemiology, causes, trends and predictions. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 10(1), 33. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-02072-z
[2] George, T., & Patel, R. K. (2019, September 3). Milk Thistle. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541075/
[3] Do Young Kwon, Young Suk Jung, Sun Ju Kim, Young Soon Kim, Dal Woong Choi, & Young Chul Kim. (2013). Alterations in Sulfur Amino Acid Metabolism in Mice Treated with Silymarin: A Novel Mechanism of Its Action Involved in Enhancement of the Antioxidant Defense in Liver. Planta Medica, 79(12), 997–1002. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1328704
[4] Gillessen, A., & Schmidt, H. H.-J. . (2020). Silymarin as Supportive Treatment in Liver Diseases: A Narrative Review. Advances in Therapy, 37(4), 1279–1301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-020-01251-y
[5] Zhu, H.-J., Brinda, B. J., Chavin, K. D., Bernstein, H. J., Patrick, K. S., & Markowitz, J. S. (2013). An Assessment of Pharmacokinetics and Antioxidant Activity of Free Silymarin Flavonolignans in Healthy Volunteers: A Dose Escalation Study. Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 41(9), 1679–1685. https://doi.org/10.1124/dmd.113.052423
[6] Vargas-Mendoza, N. (2014). Hepatoprotective effect of silymarin. World Journal of Hepatology, 6(3), 144. https://doi.org/10.4254/wjh.v6.i3.144
[7] Liver Health Supplements Market Size & Share Analysis – Industry Research Report – Growth Trends. (n.d.). Www.mordorintelligence.com. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/liver-health-supplements-market
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