Liver protection – Sylimarin and Silibinin

In previous blog posts, we discussed milk thistle, a medicinal herb used for liver protection.

What are mycotoxins (fungal toxins)?

Cereals contain mycotoxins throughout the year. High levels of nitrogen fertiliser worsen the toxin problem. Glyphosate affects the cytochrome p450 defence enzyme system, which breaks down xenobiotics and fungal toxins, increasing exposure to mycotoxins.

The bran contains 90% of the fungal toxins in cereals. During milling, 10-30% of the DON fungal toxin content of the grain passes into the white flour. However, the bran may contain up to ten times the amount of fungal toxin found in the original wheat grain. For example, if wheat with 0.5 ppm DON is milled, the bran fraction can contain up to 3-5 ppm.

White flour made from the same wheat contains only 10% of the fungal toxin compared to wholemeal flour. Bran breads or rolls are the worst offenders in terms of fungal toxins, which is particularly important in wet years.

Avoid wholemeal flour as systemic and local (absorbable) pesticides accumulate in the husk.

To protect livestock from fungal toxins, use 6-7 different toxin binders supplemented with vitamin E and D. Functional feeding can also increase the animals’ detoxification capacity. Arginine acts as an antioxidant and its deficiency reduces the detoxification capacity.

Sylimarin and silibinin, the active ingredients in milk thistle, are the best liver protectors against fungal toxins.

Pet owners often seek our advice and practical help when neither the feed manufacturer nor the vet can assist. It is worth considering why our pets, dogs and cats, are being affected by human diseases on a large scale. Our four-legged friends under human care suffer from the same syndromes as their owners.

These diseases did not exist twenty, thirty or forty years ago.

Milk thistle protects the liver

Milk thistle protects the liver and helps regulate carbohydrate metabolism by promoting insulin utilization. Improved liver function can lead to better glucose and fat metabolism.

The active ingredients in milk thistle are silymarin and water-soluble flavonoids, including quercetin and taxifolin, which protect the cytochrome p450 enzyme system.

This system acts as a catalyst for detoxification, breaking down harmful fungal toxins, xenobiotics, and pesticides. Glyphosate damages the enzyme system. This system plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism and maintaining a healthy hormone balance in the body.

Read this Article in German: Leberschutz – Sylimarin und Silibinin