--- title: "Evidence: improves liver enzymes, lipids" description: "Silymarin supplementation may improve liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and liver histology in individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s112.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s112.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s112.html" type: "study" study_key: "s112" journal: "Ann Hepatol" year: 2023 pmid: "38579127" doi: "10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101174" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Evidence: improves liver enzymes, lipids [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Evidence: improves liver enzymes, lipids **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s112.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/s112 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Ann Hepatol | | Year | 2023 | | PMID | [38579127](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38579127/) | | DOI | [10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101174](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101174) | | Study key | s112 | ## Takeaway Silymarin supplementation may improve liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and liver histology in individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. ## The question Does silymarin improve outcomes in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)? ## Hypothesis The study implicitly hypothesizes that silymarin, a hepatoprotective extract, may be effective in slowing NAFLD progression. ## Methods This meta-analysis included 26 randomized controlled trials with 2,375 patients. Data were extracted from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, clinicaltrials.gov, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Continuous values were pooled using standard mean difference (SMD) and dichotomous values using odds ratio (OR). Heterogeneity was assessed with Cochran's Q test (Istatistic), and statistical significance was set at P<0.05. ## Results Silymarin significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL-C, FI, HOMA-IR, ALT, AST, fatty liver index, and fatty liver score. It also increased HDL-C and significantly improved hepatic steatosis based on liver histology. Specifically, ALT decreased by an SMD of -12.39, AST by -10.97, and hepatic steatosis showed an OR of 3.25 for improvement. ## Conclusion Silymarin can regulate energy metabolism, attenuate liver damage, and improve liver histology in patients with NAFLD. ## Limitations The abstract states that the effects of silymarin will need to be confirmed by further research. ## Verbatim from the abstract > Silymarin can regulate energy metabolism, attenuate liver damage, and improve liver histology ## Impact of Silymarin on Key NAFLD Markers (Standard Mean Difference) | Measure | Standard Mean Difference (SMD) | | --- | --- | | ALT | -12.39 | | AST | -10.97 | | TC | -0.85 | | LDL-C | -0.81 | | TG | -0.62 | | FI | -0.59 | | Fatty Liver Score | -0.51 | | HOMA-IR | -0.37 | | HDL-C | 0.46 | *Silymarin significantly reduced levels of ALT, AST, TC, LDL-C, TG, FI, fatty liver score, and HOMA-IR, while increasing HDL-C. The effect on hepatic steatosis (OR=3.25) is not directly comparable on this SMD scale.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Silymarin (Milk Thistle) | Moderate evidence | [Silymarin (Milk Thistle)](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/112.md) | ## Reference 1. **Evidence: improves liver enzymes, lipids** Ann Hepatol 2023 · [PMID 38579127](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38579127/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101174](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101174) > Silymarin can regulate energy metabolism, attenuate liver damage, and improve liver histology ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s112.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s112.html","name":"Evidence: improves liver enzymes, lipids","description":"Silymarin supplementation may improve liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and liver histology in individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s112.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Evidence: improves liver enzymes, lipids","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s112.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s112.html#study","name":"Evidence: improves liver enzymes, lipids","headline":"Evidence: improves liver enzymes, lipids","datePublished":"2023","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Ann Hepatol"},"identifier":"PMID:38579127","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38579127/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101174","abstract":"Silymarin supplementation may improve liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and liver histology in individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Silymarin (Milk Thistle)](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/112.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Silybum marianum (milk thistle) and silymarin as a potential therapeutic plant in…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30015401.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).