Compared to our original liver-support supplement based on milk thistle seed meal, HEPASHIELD® is a more advanced, more complex, more effective and more modern formulation.
Its foundation remains the same powerful natural liver-protecting herb — milk thistle seed — but the recipe has been expanded and optimized for enhanced effectiveness.
Thanks to its complex and science-based formulation, HEPASHIELD® supports the liver’s detoxification and metabolic regulatory functions. It helps process nutrients, including the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, while supporting the neutralization of toxins. It also contributes to improved liver enzyme function and parameters, with a positive impact on the horse’s overall health and well-being.
Milk thistle seed – what you should know
The primary active compound of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is silymarin, a flavonolignan complex responsible for its liver-protective effects.
Different forms of milk thistle processing contain different active compounds. Silymarin is found mainly in the seed husk and remains almost entirely in the press cake after oil extraction.
Milk thistle seed oil, on the other hand, is exceptionally rich in fatty acids (such as linoleic and oleic acid), which provide strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Milk thistle seed meal and milk thistle seed oil therefore complement each other, enhancing liver support through different but synergistic mechanisms.
How do they work together?
Milk thistle seed meal provides silymarin, offering antioxidant and cellular protection, while milk thistle seed oil supplies essential fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-9) and vitamin E.
Silymarin has relatively low bioavailability, but when consumed together with fats, absorption improves significantly. In this combination, the oil acts as a natural “carrier,” enhancing silymarin utilization.
At the same time, the fatty acids support cell membrane stability and liver cell regeneration, making hepatocytes more resistant to damage.
Enhanced detox support
The liver-protective effect of HEPASHIELD® is further strengthened by a targeted detoxifying component. Choline chloride supports fat metabolism and transport within the liver. When toxins are stored in fat tissue (such as aflatoxins or heavy metals), choline helps break them down and promote their elimination.
These toxins are often present in poor-quality or mold-contaminated hay and feed.
When do we recommend feeding HEPASHIELD®?
- for horses exposed to intensive physical workload, medication, stress or other liver-burdening conditions
- before and after vaccinations, deworming, or long-term medication, for at least 1 month
- after the consumption of mold-contaminated feed (always following an immediate feed change)
- in cases of metabolic disorders (IR, Cushing’s, EMS), especially with high protein or grain intake
- when liver enzymes are elevated or blood parameters are suboptimal
- as a general liver-support and detox program, recommended at least twice per year for 1–2 months
Composition
Milk thistle seed meal, cold-pressed milk thistle seed oil, choline, lysine, niacin, vitamin C, silymarin, folic acid, copper (Cu), iron (Fe).
Active Ingredients (per kg)
- Cold-pressed milk thistle seed meal & oil: 817,000 mg
- Vitamin C: 10,300 mg
- Lysine: 6,500 mg
- Niacin: 500 mg
- Silymarin: 220 mg
- Calcium phosphatidylcholine: 150 mg
- Iron (Fe): 100 mg
- Copper (Cu): 24 mg
- Folic acid: 10 mg
Feeding Instructions
- Horses & pregnant mares: 2 × 20 g per day (2 × 1 scoop)
(1 kg provides approx. 20 daily servings)
- Ponies & foals under 2 years: 2 × 10 g per day (2 × ½ scoop)
(1 kg provides approx. 50 daily servings)
