title: Combined therapy of silymarin and desferrioxamine in patients with beta-thalassemia major: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.
abstract: Silymarin, a flavonolignan complex isolated from Silybum marianum, has a strong antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and iron chelating activities. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic activity of orally administered silymarin in patients with thalassemia major under conventional iron chelation therapy. A 3-month randomized, double-blind, clinical trial was conducted in 59 beta-thalassemia major patients in two well-matched groups. Patients were randomized to receive a silymarin tablet (140 mg) three times a day plus conventional desferrioxamine therapy. The second group received the same therapy but a placebo tablet instead of silymarin. Clinical laboratory tests were assessed at the beginning and the end of the trial, except for serum ferritin level that was assessed at the middle of the trial as well. Results of this study revealed that the combined therapy was well tolerated and more effective than desferrioxamine in reducing serum ferritin level. Significant improvement in liver alkaline phosphatase and glutathione levels of red blood cells was also observed in silymarin-treated beta-thalassemia patients. However, no significant difference in serum ferritin levels was detected between silymarin and placebo groups after 1.5 and 3 months treatment, probably because of insufficient sample size to detect subtle changes in ferritin levels between groups. This is the first report showing the beneficial effects of silymarin in thalassemia patients and suggests that silymarin in combination with desferrioxamine can be safely and effectively used in the treatment of iron-loaded patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gharagozloo
authors.forename: Behjat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moayedi
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zakerinia
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamidi
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maracy
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Amirghofran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D017262:Siderophores / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012838:Silymarin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017262:Siderophores; D012838:Silymarin; D005293:Ferritins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D005978:Glutathione; D003676:Deferoxamine