Milk thistle dosage recommendations
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Milk Thistle Dosage Recommendations: Human, Animal, and Food Applications
Milk Thistle Dosage for Liver Health in Humans
Research on milk thistle (Silybum marianum) for liver support and related conditions provides several dosage guidelines. Clinical studies in oncology and liver disease patients commonly use silymarin (the active compound in milk thistle) at daily doses ranging from 160 mg to 600 mg, with beneficial effects observed in reducing liver enzyme levels and supporting liver function . In a study involving patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a daily dose of 7.1 grams of milk thistle seeds (providing 210 mg silymarin) over three months led to improvements in blood triglyceride levels and liver enzyme activity, even when other lifestyle recommendations were not followed . For chemotherapy-induced liver toxicity in children, a dose of 7 mg/kg body weight per day was effective in reducing liver enzyme levels without adverse effects .
Milk Thistle Dosage in Animal Studies
Animal research also provides insight into effective dosing. In a rat model of paracetamol-induced liver toxicity, silymarin milk thistle was administered at 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight, with the highest dose (600 mg/kg) showing the most significant restorative effects on liver biomarkers . In poultry, milk thistle extract was added to feed at doses of 0.1 to 2.0 mg/kg body weight, resulting in improved blood parameters and increased anabolic processes . For horses, daily feed doses of 100 g, 200 g, 400 g, and 700 g of milk thistle seed cakes were tested, with digestibility of the active silymarin complex increasing with dose and plateauing at 700 g/day .
Dosage Recommendations in Food Products
When incorporating milk thistle into food products, such as butter biscuits, the optimal dosage of milk thistle meal was found to be 7.5% by weight of flour. This level maintained product quality and allowed for a reduction in sugar and fat content, enhancing the nutritional value of the final product .
Silymarin Content in Milk Thistle Preparations
For tinctures and extracts, a simple extraction method using ground seeds and a 70% hydro-alcoholic solution (1:1 ratio) for 7 days produced tinctures with silymarin concentrations of at least 25 mg/mL, meeting recommended therapeutic levels .
Conclusion
Milk thistle dosage recommendations vary by application and target population. For liver health in humans, daily silymarin doses of 160–600 mg are commonly used, with specific studies supporting 210 mg/day from seeds or 7 mg/kg body weight in children. Animal studies use higher per-body-weight doses, and food applications benefit from a 7.5% inclusion rate by flour weight. Extracts should contain at least 25 mg/mL silymarin for therapeutic use. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting milk thistle supplementation, especially for specific health conditions or in combination with other treatments 24567891.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic