Heavy drinking
Heavy drinking over a long period has left me with a dysfunctional liver. I am now tee-total but wonder if you could recommend any supplements that might help this organ’s recovery. I am currently taking two 450mg of silymarin capsules daily.
Silymarin is the active agent in the liver-protecting herb milk thistle (Silybum marianum) which is also called wild artichoke. Traditionally used by herbalists to help nursing mothers produce more breastmilk, its protective effects on the liver were only discovered later.
What is not widely known is that this agent, which can not only protect the liver from damage but which can help trigger the regeneration of new liver cells is even more effective when bound to phosphatidylcholine - a key component of cell membranes which appears to help the body better absorb the silymarin and produce even better clinical results.
In one study, patients with chronic hepatitis caused by either excess alcohol or a viral infection were given relatively low doses of these combined agents but still showed significant improvements in liver function. Luckily, I have tracked down one of these little-known combination supplements. Maximum Milk Thistle which combines silymarin and phosphatidycholine is only available from the Nutri Centre (020 7436 0422). 90 capsules cost £39.95.