Milk Thistle provides antioxidant support for horses. It can help support healthy liver function.
Milk Thistle
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Mad Barn’s Milk Thistle is a dried, powdered form of the seed of the Silybum marianum plant. This herb can be added to equine diets to support healthy liver function and provide antioxidants.
Milk Thistle, also known as St. Mary’s Thistle, is a Mediterranean plant that contains various active compounds collectively called silymarin which include silybin. The main site of action of milk thistle is the liver and it has been well-researched for its effects on liver disease in humans. [1]
Silymarin is an effective antioxidant that is thought to support the liver in times of injury related to toxins, fat accumulation, and iron overload.
Milk thistle helps protect the liver from toxins in the environment, like those found in poisonous mushrooms, ragwort or red maple trees. If these are prevalent in your area, consider adding milk thistle to your horse’s diet.
Horses and ponies with hyperlipemia may have excess fat in the liver. Milk thistle supplementation may help to support their liver and its normal function. In humans, silymarin has been shown to protect against the negative effects of fat accumulation in the liver. [2]
Milk thistle could provide nutritional support for horses with laminitis. In one study, tissue extracted from horse hooves was challenged with toxins and treated with milk thistle or silymarin. The protocol was able to neutralize the toxin and improve the structural integrity of the tissue. [3] Further research is needed to verify these effects in horses consuming oral milk thistle supplements.
Silymarin also acts as an iron chelator, meaning it binds iron molecules and may help reduce serum ferritin levels and iron stores in tissues. [4] In humans that are genetically prone to iron overload, this herb has been shown to decrease iron absorption.
To include Mad Barn’s milk thistle in your horse’s diet, we suggest a dosage of 4 grams per 500 kg (1100 lb) of bodyweight per day. You may want to start feeding a smaller amount and increase gradually over several weeks to minimize avoidance. It can be provided as dried powder added directly to the feed or brewed into a tea that is poured over the feed.
Milk Thistle is generally well tolerated in horses. It has not been studied in breeding or pregnant horses so its safety in these animals can not be assured.
In humans it has been shown to cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal upsets in a minority of people. In healthy horses, concentrated milk thistle extract in the form of silibinin phospholipid did not cause adverse effects when given at a dose of up to 52 mg per kg of bodyweight (26 grams for a 500 kg horse) for one week on four separate occasions. [5]
You should always consult a qualified nutritionist before altering your feed program. Submit your horse’s diet for analysis online and one of our equine nutritionists will be happy to provide a complementary review.
References
- Mulrow, C., et al. Milk Thistle: Effects on Liver Disease and Cirrhosis and Clinical Adverse Effects: Summary . AHRQ Evidence Report Summaries. 2000.
- Cacciapuoti, Fulvio et al. Silymarin in non alcoholic fatty liver disease . World J Hepatol. 2013.
- Reisinger, Nicole et al. Milk Thistle Extract and Silymarin Inhibit Lipopolysaccharide Induced Lamellar Separation of Hoof Explants in Vitro. Toxins. 2014.
- Hutchinson, Carol et al. The iron-chelating potential of silybin in patients with hereditary haemochromatosis. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012.
- Hackett, Eileen S. et al. Pharmacokinetics and safety of silibinin in horses . Am J Vet Res. 2013.
Consult with a nutritionist or veterinarian prior to use.
Top dress once daily on feed or ration.
Body Weight | Scoops | Dose |
< 200 kg | ½ scoop | 2 g |
200 – 500 kg | 1 scoop | 4 g |
> 500 kg | 1 ½ scoops | 6 g |
1 scoop = 9 cc = 4 grams |
Body Weight | Scoops | Dose |
< 440 lb | ½ scoop | 2 g |
440 – 1100 lb | 1 scoop | 4 g |
> 1100 lb | 1 ½ scoops | 6 g |
1 scoop = 9 cc = 4 grams |
A scale should be used with all individual ingredients to ensure accurate dosing.
For equine use only. Not for use in horses intended for food.
Keep out of reach of children.
FEEDING DIRECTIONS: | ||
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Ingredient | Serving Size | |
Milk Thistle | 4.5 g / day per 500 kg (1100 lb) body weight |
Ingredients: Milk Thistle Seed Ground.
Recommended Use: Supports liver function.
Packaged by: Mad Barn Inc., Petersburg, ON, N0B 2H0, Canada.
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grams | ||
Servings | Cost Per Day |
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Customer Questions About This Product
- Is the milk thistle extract powder a 4:1 ratio?
- Q Is the milk thistle extract powder a 4:1 ratio?Asked by nathalie on May 3, 2022 2:21 pmAnswered by the admin Hi Nathalie, Our powder is pure ground milk thistle seed and is not a 4:1 extract. How long do I give this to my horse? He's on AT+ is doing awesome on it! I have worked up to a full scoop of it, so he's been on it for about 2 weeks now. Thanks, LOVE your products and how very helpful these articles are!
- Q How long do I give this to my horse? He's on AT+ is doing awesome on it! I have worked up to a fu...... Read moreAsked by Mary on July 12, 2021 12:16 pmAnswered by the admin Hi Mary, happy to hear your horse is doing well on AT+. To my knowledge, there haven't been long-term studies with milk thistle in horses but there is nothing to suggest they can't be on it long-term. Does Visceral have enough milk thistle in the ingredients to support the horse’s liver, or would you recommend also supplementing with your milk thistle product?
- Q Does Visceral have enough milk thistle in the ingredients to support the horse’s liver, or would ...... Read moreAsked by Lindsey Matthews on November 20, 2020 11:12 amAnswered by the admin One scoop of Visceral+ provides 3 grams of Milk Thistle whereas the recommended serving size for our pure Milk Thistle supplement is 4.5 grams per 500 kg of bodyweight. The amount supplied by Visceral+ should be adequate to provide liver support to most horses, but if your horse has a specific liver concern then a higher dose may be recommended by your veterinarian or a qualified equine nutritionist. Can I add milk thistle to Omneity during the summer months? Main reason is exposer to clover and other noxious weeds on pasture at boarding barn.
- Q Can I add milk thistle to Omneity during the summer months? Main reason is exposer to clover and ...... Read moreAsked by K Coutts on October 29, 2020 9:42 pmAnswered by the admin
Yes, milk thistle can be added to Omneity
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