Milk Thistle Benefits: Liver, Skin, Cholesterol, Weight Loss, And More

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat are the benefits of milk thistle?

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Lana Burgess — Updated on January 21, 2026

Benefits
Safety
With dandelion
Vitamins
Link to breast cancer
How to use
Risks
Summary

Milk thistle contains compounds that may support skin, liver, and bone health and enhance weight loss. It may also be good for helping prevent insulin resistance. However, further research is necessary.

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a flowering plant that comes from the same family as the daisy. Also known as Mary thistle or holy thistle, milk thistle grows in Mediterranean countries and people use it to make natural remedies.

The active ingredient in milk thistle is called silymarin. Doctors mainly use silymarin to help treat liver problems, but some people claim it can lower cholesterol and help manage type 2 diabetes.

This article explores potential milk thistle benefits and examines whether there is any scientific evidence to support its use. The article also looks at how to use milk thistle and whether there are any risks to consider.

Benefits of milk thistle

A milk thistle flower 1 — By Eve Livesey/Getty Images

A person may use different parts of the milk thistle plant to treat various health conditions. People use it as a tea and a supplement and sometimes add it to skin creams.

The most common use of milk thistle is for liver problems. Some people claim it can help to treat:

cirrhosis
jaundice
hepatitis
gallbladder disorders

Other potential benefits include protecting heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and helping people manage type 2 diabetes.

Supports liver health

A 2016 study found that milk thistle improved diet-induced liver damage in mice. The medical community needs more evidence to prove that milk thistle benefits human livers in the same way.

However, researchers theorize that it does. The active ingredient in milk thistle, silymarin, acts as an antioxidant by reducing free radical production. Scientists think this creates a detoxifying effect, which is why milk thistle may be beneficial for liver problems.

Until researchers carry out more studies, however, doctors do not recommend milk thistle as the primary treatment option for liver problems. But it may be a helpful complementary treatment to try if a healthcare professional approves it.

Promotes skin health

Milk thistle may help to promote healthy skin. A 2015 study found that it helped to improve inflammatory skin conditions in mice.

Researchers also found in another study that milk thistle had antioxidant and pro-aging effects on human skin cells in a laboratory environment. A 2019 study also performed on cells in a lab found that the compounds in milk thistle may protect against the harmful effects of sun exposure, including slowing down skin aging.

However, further studies on humans are needed to identify what benefits a person can expect from applying milk thistle to their skin.

Dermatology resources

Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and in-depth resources on dermatology.

Reduces cholesterol

High cholesterol can lead to problems with heart health and increase a person’s chance of stroke. Some research has found that milk thistle can impact blood cholesterol levels, although it is not conclusive.

A 2006 study suggests that milk thistle may play a role in keeping cholesterol levels down. It found that cholesterol levels were lower in people taking milk thistle to treat diabetes than those taking a placebo.

In a 2016 animal study, researchers fed rats a high-cholesterol diet. They gave some rats silybin (the active compound in milk thistle) at both 300 and 600 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight and found that these rats had significantly lower total blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Supports weight loss

A small 2022 study on people with obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) found that, after 8 weeks of milk thistle supplementation, body mass index (BMI) scores improved.

This suggests milk thistle may be beneficial for those looking to lose weight. However, researchers need to carry out more studies on the effects of milk thistle on weight loss to confirm this.

Reduces insulin resistance

A 2024 study on women with obesity who did not have diabetes found that silymarin may help reduce insulin resistance in people with obesity who do not have diabetes.

Another 2020 review of research on milk thistle concluded silymarin appears to be a “promising substance” for the treatment of insulin resistance, including in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Although milk thistle could play a role in diabetes management, more research is necessary to confirm whether it reduces insulin resistance and supports diabetes management.

The use of binary terms such as “male” and “female” or “men” and “women” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.

Improves allergic asthma symptoms

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease where the immune system overreacts to environmental triggers, leading to inflammation in the airways. The active ingredient in milk thistle may help to reduce inflammation.

A 2012 study found that silymarin helped to protect against inflammation in the airways of mice with allergic asthma. Another 2020 study in mice concluded that silymarin could help manage asthma symptoms by regulating immune responses.

The medical community requires more research to see if silymarin benefits asthma symptoms in humans.

Limits the spread of cancer

Milk thistle may help to stop the spread of certain types of cancer.

Small studies mainly performed on cells in laboratories have found that milk thistle can slow cancer cell and tumor growth and possibly increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Researchers have found benefits for several types of cancer, including:

prostate cancer
breast cancer
cervical cancer
leukemia
skin cancer
colorectal cancer

The NCI notes that several small studies have also found that milk thistle may decrease the side effects of cancer treatments, including radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved milk thistle for the treatment of cancer. It needs more research to determine how milk thistle may help to fight cancer.

Supports bone health

Milk thistle could play an essential role in supporting bone health. A 2013 study found that milk thistle helped to prevent osteoporosis.

The study looked specifically at bone loss caused by a deficiency in estrogen among rats that had their ovaries removed. It is not yet clear whether milk thistle is equally beneficial for bone loss with a different cause.

Further studies are needed before researchers can safely conclude that milk thistle supports bone health in humans.

Improves cognition

A 2015 study in worms found that milk thistle increased resistance to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a potential cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

In this way, milk thistle may help improve cognition and treat degenerative conditions that affect the mind. However, further research is necessary.

Supports the immune system

Milk thistle may help strengthen a person’s immune response. It could help the body fight off infection as well as reduce chronic inflammation produced by the immune system.

Animal research from 2016 found that milk thistle extract improved immunity. A 2002 study found that milk thistle extract had a positive effect on immune response in humans.

More studies with human participants could allow scientists to say with certainty that milk thistle supports a person’s immune system.

Is milk thistle safe?

According to the NCI, milk thistle supplements appear to have very few side effects. Rarely, taking milk thistle may cause:

a laxative effect
nausea
heartburn
upset stomach
a mild allergic reaction, at high doses

There is not much information about the interaction of milk thistle with other drugs, including anticancer medications and radiation therapy. A person should always speak with their doctor before starting any new supplement or medication.

Benefits of milk thistle and dandelion

Similar to milk thistle, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has antioxidant effects. It reportedly has other potential health benefits, which may include:

protecting the liver, immune system, and kidneys
providing antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties
reducing the risk of diabetes, arthritis, and obesity

Due to some similar potential health benefits, producers have studied milk thistle and dandelion supplements and sold them together.

One small 2016 study in rats suggests that these supplements may together protect against kidney damage caused by carbon tetrachloride, a common chemical that people use in dry-cleaning facilities.

Another small 2015 study that fed rats a high-fat diet found that the combination of milk thistle and dandelion improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.

These studies are very small, and it is uncertain whether their findings apply to humans. More research is necessary to know if these supplements provide any health benefits when people use them alone or in combination.

What vitamins are in milk thistle?

Milk thistle seeds contain silymarin. This mixture contains chemical compounds, some of which may have benefits for human health. These include:

silybin
isosilybin
silychristin
isosilychristin
silydianin
taxifolin

Most research has looked at the benefits of silymarin and silybin.

Does milk thistle cause breast cancer?

Limited laboratory research suggests that the compound silibinin in milk thistle may help to prevent breast cancer, according to the NCI. Researchers think it may also slow down the growth of cancer cells.

One small 2011 study of 101 breast cancer patients suggested that using milk thistle on the skin may protect it from damage that can occur during radiation therapy.

However, the extracts in milk thistle could act like estrogen. It may not be safe for people with hormone-sensitive breast cancer.

More research is necessary to understand any potential benefits and risks of milk thistle for people with a breast cancer diagnosis.

How to use milk thistle

Milk thistle is available as a supplement from many health food stores. There is no standard dose of milk thistle, so people should read the dosage suggested on the packaging.

Milk thistle is also available as a tea. If drinking milk thistle tea, consider limiting intake to 6 cups a day.

Some tout milk thistle seed as a calming and pro-aging ingredient in skin creams.

Risks and considerations

The FDA has not approved milk thistle to treat any health conditions.

Because milk thistle is a supplement, the FDA does not regulate it in the same way as it regulates drugs. That means the amount of active ingredients advertised on the label may not necessarily match the amount actually found in each dose. For this reason, it is important to buy milk thistle from reputable retailers.

As with any natural remedy, people should discuss using milk thistle with a doctor before taking it.

Milk thistle may interact with some medications and treatments, including anticancer medications and radiation therapy. It could also have similar effects on the body to estrogen. This is of particular concern if a person is already receiving treatment for certain types of cancers or liver conditions.

»FIND CARE:Find a family medicine specialist in your area today.

Summary

Milk thistle has a range of potential health benefits due to its active ingredient, silymarin, which is an antioxidant.

Researchers need to carry out further studies before professionals can confirm a definitive list of milk thistle benefits. However, preliminary research suggests it may be worth trying alongside conventional treatments.

It is always a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional before starting to use milk thistle or any other supplement as it may interact with medications or conditions.

Bones / Orthopedics
Nutrition / Diet
Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Lana Burgess — Updated on January 21, 2026

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