Silymarin in Combination with Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10 and Selenomethionine to Improve Liver Enzymes and Blood Lipid Profile in NAFLD Patients

Medicina (Kaunas). 2020 Oct 17;56(10):544. doi: 10.3390/medicina56100544.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is an emerging cause of hepatopathy that is showing an increasing trend and where the recommendations of lifestyle modification are often not sufficient. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability profile of the association of silymarin, vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and selenomethionine (Medronys epato®) by analyzing liver enzymes, along with the lipidic profile, as markers of liver function, and ultrasound results in NAFLD patients. Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 81 patients with mild to severe NAFLD, divided into two groups: Group A (N = 41) received two capsules a day of silymarin, vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and selenomethionine (Medronys epato®), and Group B (N = 40) received only recommendations for lifestyle modification including hypocaloric diet, physical exercise and encouragement for weight loss. Patients have been evaluated at three timepoints: baseline (T0), after 45 days of treatment (T1) and after 90 days of treatment (T2), by collecting blood parameters of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and the lipid blood profile. Ultrasonographic results have been analyzed at T0 and T2, along with the tolerability profile and side effects, registered at time T2. Results: The administration of the association of silymarin, vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and selenomethionine (Medronys epato®) was effective since it showed a significant reduction of the evaluated parameters of ALT, AST, ALP and GGT, a significant improvement of lipid parameters, evaluated as markers of liver function, and improvements of ultrasonographic results. The use of this formulation at the dosage of two capsules a day has been well tolerated and no adverse events have been reported during study period of three months. Conclusions: The administration of the association of silymarin, vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and selenomethionine (Medronys epato®) was effective and well tolerated in the improvement of hepatic function of NAFLD patients.

Keywords: coenzyme Q10; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); selenomethionine; silymarin; vitamin C; vitamin E.

MeSH terms

  • Ascorbic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Diet, Reducing
  • Humans
  • Lipids / blood
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / drug therapy
  • Obesity
  • Selenomethionine / therapeutic use
  • Silymarin* / therapeutic use
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives
  • Ubiquinone / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin E / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Lipids
  • Silymarin
  • Ubiquinone
  • Vitamin E
  • Selenomethionine
  • coenzyme Q10
  • Ascorbic Acid