Seed, extract or a blend
| Type | What the label states | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Ground seed | Milk thistle seeds, 500 mg per capsule | Swanson Milk Thistle Seed |
| Extract with turmeric | Milk thistle extract standardised to silymarin flavonoids, plus turmeric root | NOW Foods Silymarin Milk Thistle Extract with Turmeric |
| Blend | Milk thistle seeds with dandelion root, yellow dock root (Rumex crispus) and beet root | Swanson Milk Thistle, Dandelion and Yellow Dock |
Silymarin is the name for the group of flavonoid compounds found in the seeds. A product that states only the weight of seeds does not tell you how much silymarin is in it, and one that states silymarin tells you less about the whole seed. Neither is better in itself: compare like with like.
Milk thistle products compared
| Product | Daily dose on the label | Amount per day | Pack lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOW Foods Silymarin Milk Thistle Extract with Turmeric 150 mg, 60 capsules | 2 capsules, 1 to 3 times a day, with a meal | 300 to 900 mg extract and 700 to 2100 mg turmeric root | 10 to 30 days |
| Swanson Milk Thistle Seed 500 mg, 30 or 100 capsules | 2 capsules, 2 to 3 times a day, with water | 2000 to 3000 mg seeds | 30 capsules: 5 to 7 days; 100 capsules: 16 to 25 days |
| Swanson Milk Thistle, Dandelion and Yellow Dock, 120 capsules | 2 capsules a day, with water | 700 mg milk thistle, 250 mg dandelion, 250 mg yellow dock, 100 mg beet | 60 days |
On the NOW Foods label, 6 capsules hold 900 mg of milk thistle extract, with a silymarin flavonoid content stated on the pack, and 2100 mg of turmeric root. Read the full nutrition table on the product page.
What the EU allows us to say
The EU has no authorised health claims for milk thistle, silymarin, turmeric, dandelion or yellow dock. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 we therefore describe the composition and the dose, not what the herb does in the body. If you see longer promises elsewhere, they are not EU-approved.
Warnings on the labels
- NOW Foods: adults only; not for pregnant or breastfeeding women; consult a doctor if you take medicines or have a medical condition, especially a gallbladder function disorder.
- Swanson seed: adults only; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medicines or have a medical condition, consult a doctor first.
- Swanson blend: do not take with kidney stones, intestinal obstruction, bile duct obstruction or gallbladder problems; not for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Turmeric, which NOW Foods adds, has its own cautions for people with bile or gallbladder conditions and for people on medicines, so read the label before buying. Other plant extracts are in ashwagandha, and inositol and vitamins have their own pages.
Questions
Is milk thistle the same as silymarin?
No. Milk thistle is the plant and its seed. Silymarin is a group of compounds in the seed, and an extract can be standardised to it.
How many capsules a day?
Follow the label of the product you choose. The three products here differ from 2 to 6 capsules, and the labels give ranges.
Can I take milk thistle with my medicines?
The labels say to consult a doctor if you take medicines. We cannot advise on individual combinations.
Why do you not describe the benefits?
Because no EU-authorised claim exists for milk thistle. We write only what is on the label.
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (nutrition and health claims on foods)
- Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (list of permitted health claims)
- EFSA: Health claims
Content reviewed by Inese Kalniņa, dietitian.
2026-10-17
