- What Is Milk Thistle and What Is It Used For?
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a flowering herb that has been used in traditional wellness practices for centuries. Today, milk thistle extracts are commonly used to support liver health, antioxidant activity, and overall wellness. Much of the scientific interest in milk thistle centers on its naturally occurring flavonoid complex known as silymarin. - What Is Silymarin and Why Is It Important?
Silymarin is a group of flavonoid compounds found in milk thistle seeds, including silybin, silydianin, and silychristin. These compounds are considered the primary bioactive constituents of milk thistle and are commonly used as markers of quality in standardized extracts. Silymarin has been extensively studied for its antioxidant activity and its role in supporting liver health. - How Does Silymarin Support Liver Health?
Research suggests that silymarin supports liver health through multiple mechanisms. These include antioxidant activity, support for normal liver cell membrane function, and interactions with cellular pathways involved in protein synthesis and cellular maintenance. Silymarin has also been studied for its role in supporting healthy glutathione levels, one of the body's most important antioxidant systems. - What Makes Swanson Standardized Milk Thistle Different From Other Milk Thistle Supplements?
Swanson Standardized Milk Thistle combines 250 mg of whole milk thistle seed with 250 mg of a concentrated milk thistle extract standardized to provide 80% silymarin, the primary bioactive complex found in milk thistle. This dual approach delivers both the naturally occurring compounds found in the whole seed and the consistent potency of a standardized extract, providing a broader milk thistle profile in every serving. - Is Swanson Standardized Milk Thistle Suitable for Special Diets?
Swanson Standardized Milk Thistle is non-GMO, gluten free, and dairy free. However, it is not suitable for vegan or vegetarian diets because the capsules contain gelatin.