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News-ConsumerLab Milk Thistle

by | Jan 1, 2013

Post Categories: Health Conditions | Nutrition and Lifestyle | Supplements

Tests Show Many Milk Thistle Supplements Low in Key Component

Recent tests by ConsumerLab.com of 11 milk thistle supplements show that only 4 met ConsumerLab.com’s quality standards. One product had an unacceptable amount of lead, and 6 products did not contain expected amounts of silymarin compounds, which are believed to be the active constituents of milk thistle. Studies suggest silymarin may be helpful in type 2 diabetes and certain liver conditions, and may protect the liver from toxic effects of chemotherapy. While most products claimed that their milk thistle extracts were standardized to 80% silymarin, ConsumerLab.com found actual amounts to range from 48% to 67%. Sales of milk thistle in the US were $108 million in 2011, up 10.2% from the prior year according to the latest figures from Nutrition Business Journal.

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