Effects of Silymarin Supplementation on Leptin, Adiponectin and Paraoxanase Levels and Body Composition During Exercise: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: silymarin has powerful antioxidant properties, but its effects on athletic performance are poorly understood. objectives: the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of 4 weeks of endurance or strength exercise, with or without silymarin, on body composition, paraoxonase (pon), leptin and adiponectin levels in untrained men. methods: a total of 45 untrained men were divided into 5 groups (n = 9): endurance training with placebo (et + p), endurance training with 140mgof silymarin/day (et + s), strength training with placebo (st + p), strength training with 140mgof silymarin/day (st + s) and placebo (c). anthropometrical and vo2max measurements and elisa assay for pon, leptin and adiponectin levels were performed at the beginning and after the 4-week of the study results: there was a significant decrease in weight and body mass index in the et + p and et + s groups and increases in st + p and st + s (p < 0.05) groups. body fat declined in all four trained groups (p < 0.001). peak oxygen uptake (vo2max) improved in both et + p and et + s subjects. paraoxonase (pon) was increased only in et + s group (p < 0.05). adiponectin was increased in all four groups (p < 0.05). circulating leptin remained unchanged within all interventions. conclusions: the present study has demonstrated that a combination of exercise and silymarin can improve body composition and adiponectin levels.