Report: Milk Thistle Supplements Fail Quality Standards

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.In a new report, Consumerlab.com evaluated 11 milk thistle supplements, with seven failing the independent website's quality standards test. The report, "Product Review of Milk Thistle Supplements" is available on the company's website.

Of the supplements tested, one had an excessive amount of lead, and the remaining six contained smaller amounts silymarin compounds, the active constituents of milk thistle, than labeled. Most of the products tested claimed the extracts were 80 percent silymarin, but Consumerlab.com tests documented ranges between 48 and 67 percent.

Consumerlab.com used the highly specific HPLC testing method for the review, noting that many of the supplements used low-quality milk thistle extract.

In October, the website reviewed 22 eye health products, evaluating the formulations' dosages, costs and quality.