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Hindi Research Article
Effects of Silymarin on Treatment Naïve Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection-A Randomized Controlled Trial
| Okonkwo Uchenna C1*, Aluka Anthony2and Ezedinachi Emmanuel1 | ||
| 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria | ||
| 2Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria | ||
| Corresponding Author : | Dr. Okonkwo UC Department of Internal Medicine University of Calabar Teaching Hospital P.M.B. 1278, Calabar, Cross river state, Nigeria Tel: +234 803 3251 240 Email: drucokonkwo@unical.edu.ng |
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| Received July 07, 2014; Accepted September 23, 2014; Published September 30, 2014 | ||
| Citation: Okonkwo Uchenna C, Aluka Anthony, Ezedinachi Emmanuel (2014) Effects of Silymarin on Treatment Naïve Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection-A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Infect Dis Ther 2:168. doi:10.4172/2332-0877.1000168 | ||
| Copyright: © 2014 Uchenna OC, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | ||
Related article at Pubmed Scholar Google |
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Abstract
Background: Silymarin, an extract of milk thistle (silybum marianum) is widely used in the treatment of patients with chronic liver disease yet its beneficial effects remain controversial.
Aim: To determine the effect of silymarin on liver biochemistry and health related quality of life (HRQOL) in treatment naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.
Methods: This was a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross river state. Patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomized to receive silymarin or placebo for 4 weeks. Their liver function tests and HRQOL were assessed at baseline and post-treatment.
Results: Eighty-six persons were enrolled into the study. Seventy-nine completed the study. Silymarin use was associated (p<0.05) with improvement in serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase and HRQOL from baseline but not with serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase.
Conclusion: Silymarin use among patients with chronic hepatitis B is associated with improvement in liver function tests especially markers of liver inflammation and HRQOL.
