Silymarin and management of liver function in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: a case report

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progressive form (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; NASH) are the main reason for chronic liver disease in the general population, characterized by fat accumulation in hepatocytes (steatosis) and anomalies in liver biochemical analyses. To date, no pharmacological agents have been approved for NAFLD or NASH treatment. However, silymarin, the active ingredient in milk thistle, has been used in the last decades for the treatment of several liver diseases. In this case report, treatment with silymarin 140 mg three-times daily highlighted moderate efficacy and a good safety profile in the management of NASH and liver function, as it decreased serum AST and ALT levels over the treatment period with no side-effects, supporting silymarin as a promising supplemental intervention that can normalize liver activity in NAFLD and NASH.