
09/28/2024
The pathophysiology of mold-related illness is from the toxic effect of mycotoxins produced by molds. Exposure to mycotoxins can cause inflammation, immune system dysregulation, and tissue damage via oxidative stress. Researchers in this new study set out to determine if the herbal medicine milk thistle (silymarin) would protect against these harmful mechanisms in an animal model (young rabbits).
The rabbits were divided into three groups. All groups were fed a diet infected with aflatoxin B1, and two of the groups received silymarin in different doses. The groups with silymarin had improved growth performance, red blood cell count, and antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, the groups that received silymarin also had better intestinal villi (nutrient absorption surface area). Liver enzymes and oxidative stress markers were also reduced in the groups treated with milk thistle.
Overall, supplementing with milk thistle reduced the adverse effects of exposure to aflatoxin. Therefore, this easily accessible herbal medicine should be considered in treating mold-related illness.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11408635/
https://drtoddmaderis.com/chronic-inflammatory-response-syndrome)