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 .
Effects of silybum marianum on patients with chronic hepatitis C
BACKGROUND : Silymarin derived from silybum marianum ( milk thistle ) , a flowering member of the daisy family , may benefit liver function in people infected with the hepatitis C virus . The aims of this pilot study were to assess the efficacy and safety of silymarin on serum hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) RNA , serum aminotransferases ( ALT , AST ) levels , liver fibrosis and well-being in patients with chronic hepatitis C ( CHC ) . METHODS : This prospect i ve self-controlled trial study was conducted from March to September 2006 at Department of Gastroenterology , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran . 55 patients with HCV ( 10 female and 45 male ) with a mean age of 31.8 ± 6.4 years ( 10 - 67 years ) were participated in the study . Patients received 24 weeks of silymarin ( 630 mg/day ) . Baseline virological biochemical , liver fibrosis ( by a serum fibrosis markers , including YKL–40 and Hyaluronic acid ) , and SF-36 question naire were performed with biochemical tests repeated at the end of the treatment period . RESULTS : There was statistically difference in mean of ALT ( 108.7 ± 86.6 vs 70.3 ± 57.7 ) before and after the treatment ( p < 0.001 ) . The means of AST were 99.4 ± 139.7 and 59.7 ± 64.32 before and after the treatment with statistically differences ( p = 0.004 ) . After the treatment , nine patients were found with negative HCV-RNA ( p = 0.004 ) and statistically significant improvement in results of liver fibrosis markers were found only in fibrosis group ( p = 0.015 ) . Quality of life was improved significantly ( p < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS : This study indicated that in patients with CHC  performing silymarin ( 650 mg/day ) for 6 months , improved serum HCV-RNA titer , serum aminotransferases ( ALT , AST ) , hepatic fibrosis and patient 's quality of life . More future studies are warranted
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 .