Metabolic syndrome is the term used to describe a group of related conditions, including:(106)
Lab, animal, and clinical research suggests milk thistle extracts can help prevent and treat metabolic syndrome by:(76, 107, 108)
Milk thistle may also reduce the need for high doses of statins. In a 6-month clinical trial, a combination of milk thistle, another herb containing berberine, and half-dose statin drug was more effective than the statin combined with placebo. The milk thistle dosage was 105 mg, twice a day.(109)
Berberine is a natural statin, as is Monascus purpureus fermented rice. Milk thistle's silymarin compounds improve absorption of berberine. In a clinical study, a combination of these herbal compounds helped lower cholesterol in patients with high cholesterol levels.(110)