A study has found that a silybin and vitamin E phospholipid complext improved a range of parameters suggesting its usefulness in the treatment of chronic liver damage.

Oxidative stress leads to chronic liver damage. Silybin has been conjugated with vitamin E and phospholipids to improve its antioxidant activity. Eighty-five patients were divided into 2 groups: those affected by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (group A) and those with HCV-related chronic hepatitis associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (group B), nonresponders to treatment. The treatment consisted of silybin/vitamin E/phospholipids.

After treatment, group A showed a significant reduction in ultrasonographic scores for liver steatosis. Liver enzyme levels, hyperinsulinemia, and indexes of liver fibrosis showed an improvement in treated individuals. A significant correlation among indexes of fibrosis, body mass index, insulinemia, plasma levels of transforming growth factor-β, tumor necrosis factor-α, degree of steatosis, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase was observed. The data suggest that silybin conjugated with vitamin E and phospholipids could be used as a complementary approach to the treatment of patients with chronic liver damage.

Ref: The effect of a silybin-vitamin e-phospholipid complex on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot study," Loguercio C, Federico A, et al, Dig Dis Sci, 2007; 52(9): 2387-95.

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