There was no significant change in the γGT levels .
Significant differences were not found .
CONCLUSION Silymarin minimally reduced , but without clinical relevance , the serum levels of ALT and AST .
AIM To evaluate the effect of silymarin on the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ) , aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase ( γGT ) in patients with liver diseases .
Long-term (12 months) treatment with an anti-oxidant drug (silymarin) is effective on hyperinsulinemia, exogenous insulin need and malondialdehyde levels in cirrhotic diabetic patients.
BACKGROUND / AIMS Several studies have demonstrated that diabetic patients with cirrhosis require insulin treatment because of insulin resistance . As chronic alcoholic liver damage is partly due to the lipoperoxidation of hepatic cell membranes , anti-oxidizing agents may be useful in treating or preventing damage due to free radicals . The aim of this study was to ascertain whether long-term treatment with silymarin is effective in reducing lipoperoxidation and insulin resistance in diabetic patients with cirrhosis . METHODS A 12-month open , controlled study was conducted in two well-matched groups of insulin-treated diabetics with alcoholic cirrhosis . One group ( n=30 ) received 600 mg silymarin per day plus st and ard therapy , while the control group ( n=30 ) received st and ard therapy alone . The efficacy parameters , measured regularly during the study , included fasting blood glucose levels , mean daily blood glucose levels , daily glucosuria levels , glycosylated hemoglobin ( HbA1c ) and malondialdehyde levels . RESULTS There was a significant decrease ( p<0.01 ) in fasting blood glucose levels , mean daily blood glucose levels , daily glucosuria and HbA1c levels already after 4 months of treatment in the silymarin group . In addition , there was a significant decrease ( p<0.01 ) in fasting insulin levels and mean exogenous insulin requirements in the treated group , while the untreated group showed a significant increase ( p<0.05 ) in fasting insulin levels and a stabilized insulin need . These findings are consistent with the significant decrease ( p<0.01 ) in basal and glucagon-stimulated C-peptide levels in the treated group and the significant increase in both parameters in the control group . Another interesting finding was the significant decrease ( p<0.01 ) in malondialdehyde/levels observed in the treated group . CONCLUSIONS These results show that treatment with silymarin may reduce the lipoperoxidation of cell membranes and insulin resistance , significantly decreasing endogenous insulin overproduction and the need for exogenous insulin administration
There was no significant change in the γGT levels .
Significant differences were not found .
CONCLUSION Silymarin minimally reduced , but without clinical relevance , the serum levels of ALT and AST .
AIM To evaluate the effect of silymarin on the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ) , aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase ( γGT ) in patients with liver diseases .