Milk thistle extract (silymarin) is sold for liver health.
Calculator Official intake Study doses Best form Safety Sources
This is not an essential nutrient, so there is no official daily intake. Only study doses are shown.
These are doses tested in research, not personal advice. Some exceed the upper limit because they were short courses or given under medical care.
No single dose
A Cochrane review of 18 trials (1,088 patients with alcohol-related or hepatitis B or C liver disease) found no effect on deaths, complications or liver tissue. A small effect on liver-related deaths disappeared in the high-quality trials.
No best form
Why: Trials used standardised silymarin extracts, without a clear benefit.
Not a normal food.
Ask your doctor if you take other medicines.
Side effects were no more common than with placebo in the Cochrane review.
Pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication, or managing a health condition? Check with a doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement.
Values checked: November 12, 2026.