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Role of Silymarin in DiabetesImproved Liver function leads to improved Diabetes ControlThe liver is the first and most important tissue involved with insulin utilization. In secondary diabetes due to liver damage, insulin resistance in particularly pronounced. The reduction in lipid per oxidation produced by silymarin can lead to improved metabolic control and a reduced requirement for endogenous insulin in such patients, as demonstrated by this investigation conducted in Italy. METHODS A homogeneous group of 60 patients with diabetes caused by liver cirrhosis who were being traded with insulin were randomly assigned to receive silymarin 600 mg/day or no silymarin for 6 months; all were receiving insulin therapy and had elevated endogenous insulin secretion suggestive on insulin resistance. Additional criteria for inclusion were; age between 45 and 70 year; insulin therapy stable for at least 2 years; negative markers for hepatitis A, B and C; alcohol abstinence for at least 2 years; liver cirrhosis determined on biopsy no earlier than 4 years previously; and class 2 according to the Child classification of cirrhosis. Ranges of measurements were conducted to assess metabolic control, serum lipid levels and liver function throughout the treatment period. RESULTS The baseline characteristics of the 2 groups were similar. Silymarin treatment produced a range of benefits in terms of diabetic control including significant reductions in daily and fasting blood glucose ¨C an effect mirrored in urine glucose measurements; significant improvement in glycosylated hemoglobin values; and a significant drop in insulin requirement and fasting insulinaemia. In contrast, the status of untreated patients declined during the trial, the outcome in silymarin recipients being significantly superior compared with the alternative group. The benefits of measurements of blood malondialdehyde levels. These values decreased significantly in treated patients, from 2.2umol/dl at baseline to 1.6umo/dl after 6 months, whereas a slight increase was observed over the 6-months period in untreated patients. Compared with baseline, total cholesterol levels tended to increase in the treated patients, and to decrease in the untreated patients.After 6 months, all silymarin recipients chose to continue receiving their treatment. CONCLUSIONS The only difference between the patient groups in this study was silymarin treatment. The clinical benefits of silymarin observed probably involve restoration of the plasma membrane of liver cells and an increase in insulin receptor sensitivity, as a result of a reduction in lipoperoxidation of liver cell membranes. ˇ°The results we obtained after 6 months of treatment indicate that we should administer silymarin for longer periods in order to identify the end point of the biochemical amelioration caused by the treatmentˇ±. more articles in Silymarin Benefits |