In numerous clinical studies, silymarin has been shown to have positive effects in treating virtually every type of liver disease including cirrhosis, hepatitis, and chemical- or alcohol-induced fatty liver. Milk thistle facilitates liver cell regeneration and can protect the liver from toxic damage.

The standard dose of milk thistle is based on its silymarin content, 70 to 210mg three times daily. For this reason, standardized extracts, typically 80% silymarin content, are preferred. Silymarin preparations are widely used in Europe, where a considerable body of evidence points to very low toxicity even when used for long periods of time.