An Important New Milk Thistle Study
Scientifically Verifies Liver Protection

Dear Fellow Hepatitis Survivor,

If you are still NOT taking Maximum Milk Thistle on a daily basis, the following information about a new clinical study may convince you to reconsider. (Find the study abstract at the bottom of this message.)

If you are ALREADY taking Maximum Milk Thistle every day, then this study will certainly reassure you that you're doing the right thing.

Should your doctors have any doubts about the importance of taking milk thistle consistently, and in high enough dosages, give them a copy of the article synopsis (the entire article appears in the October issue of the scientific medical publication, Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology).

These researchers proceeded in an extremely controlled manner, because previous studies of milk thistle extract have been inconsistent with demonstrating the benefits against liver disease. Some studies show the benefits more than others, and this is why silymarin might still be considered "controversial" by some medical professionals. This particular study removes any doubt about the powerful liver-protecting qualities of milk thistle. The results are what any objective observer would call "conclusive".

While it is specifically a study of alcohol poisoning and fibrosis, remember, alcohol is one of the most powerful liver toxins in existence. If milk thistle extract can have such a dramatic effect limiting alcohol damage over just a three-year period, why would you miss even one dose of Maximum Milk Thistle? Especially if you have the hepatitis virus attacking your liver 24 hours of every single day. Fibrosis becomes cirrhosis when it progresses. The more we can slow fibrosis, the better our chances of avoiding the most damaging effects of this disease.

Look at the study results in this article. The test subjects taking milk thistle had dramatically less deterioration of the liver. It is safe to say the fibrotic effects of the alcohol were half as bad with the group taking silymarin. This could mean double the survival rate over an extended period, just by taking Maximum Milk Thistle and making sure you take at least three capsules every day.

Notice the researchers' conclusions. They say that other studies which have not shown this dramatic beneficial effect probably resulted from inadequate dosages or inconsistent use of milk thistle. They also say that due to silymarin's innocuity (safety and lack of negative effects), future studies should find a way to assure adequate dosage and consistent use (patient/subject compliance).

Adequate dosage and consistent use are the key words here. You can accomplish this most easily, effectively and inexpensively with an ongoing subscription to Maximum Milk Thistle from LiverSupport.com.

With Maximum Milk Thistle you are always assured an adequate dosage. And not just what goes into your mouth, but also what actually gets to your liver. Remember, the biggest shortcoming of regular milk thistle formulas is the fact that they are so poorly absorbed. Most of a normal standardized milk thistle formula goes into your toilet without ever reaching your bloodstream. In complete contrast, the Phytosome process used in making Maximum Milk Thistle assures that 8 to 10 times more of the therapeutic element of milk thistle actually gets to where it does the most good, into your bloodstream and straight to your liver.

I have hepatitis c. I know how important this is. Allow me to help you understand, because your better health depends on it. I am fully convinced that Maximum Milk Thistle is helping me and that it can help you as well. If you've had any doubts about the value of milk thistle perhaps this clinical study will help to convince you. You may also want to read the other clinical studies available at http://www.liversupport.com/studiesindex.htm

Be well,

Ralph Napolitano

P.S. There is no clinical reason NOT to take Maximum Milk Thistle while you are on combination therapy. If your doctor feels otherwise, ask him for documentation of any concerns. Demand clinical study results that show any suggestion of contraindication. Otherwise, I recommend you get a second opinion. I certainly would not undergo treatment without Maximum Milk Thistle.

P.P.S. Just one more thing, and this may be most important. The researchers in this study were tracking fibrosis markers in the blood and found they were normalized in the subjects taking silymarin. This is extremely significant! Reducing enzyme levels is what most patients look for to measure the effectiveness of milk thistle products, because this is something that is routinely measured in blood tests. Unfortunately, enzyme levels are an inaccurate and inappropriate barometer. Your enzymes may or may not go down with Maximum Milk Thistle. However, with the proof that fibrosis is slowed and reduced, looking only at enzyme levels to determine effectiveness at protecting and supporting your liver might cause you to mistakenly think that the remedy is not working. And then you might discontinue use, much to your detriment. In defense of your liver and in light of this study, let me say this: unless you can be sure that it is not helping reduce fibrosis, you would be foolish to discontinue use of Maximum Milk Thistle.

Again, if you would like to discuss or debate anything I have said here, feel free to contact me directly. I know that I have come on strong in this message, but that is because I feel so strongly about this being for your highest good.

Article synopsis follows:

Silymarin Retards the Progression of Alcohol-induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Baboons Hepatoprotective effects of silymarin in patients with alcoholic liver disease are controversial. For strict control, this evaluation was conducted in non-human primates by researchers at the Bronx VA Medical Center & Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Bronx, New York. Twelve baboons were fed alcohol with or without silymarin for 3 years with a nutritionally adequate diet. Silymarin opposed the alcohol-induced oxidative stress (assessed by plasma 4-hydroxynonenal) and the rise in liver lipids and circulating ALT. Alcohol also increased hepatic collagen type I by 50% over the 3 years with a significant rise in mRNA for alpha 1 (I) procollagen, both prevented by silymarin. There were corresponding morphologic changes: at 36 months, 2 of 6 animals fed alcohol had cirrhosis and 2 septal fibrosis, with perivenular fibrosis in 2, whereas with alcohol + silymarin, there was only 1 cirrhosis and 1 septal fibrosis, with perivenular fibrosis in 2, and virtually no lesions in the remaining 2. The authors conclude, "Silymarin retards the development of alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis in baboons, consistent with several positive clinical trials. The negative outcome observed in other trials possibly reflects poor compliance resulting in irregular or low silymarin intake. "Thus, in view of the innocuity of silymarin, it might be advisable in future clinical studies to insure the controlled administration of sufficient amounts of silymarin." 10/31/03 Reference CS Lieber and others. Silymarin Retards the Progression of Alcohol-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Baboons. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 37(4): 336-339. October 2003.

Click here to see the entire report as it was published in The Journal of Clinical Gastroenteology (along with helpful commentary by Ralph Napolitano).