Thymus extract as a therapeutic supplement
Thymus extract is a supplement derived from the thymus glands of nonhuman animals, primarily cows, and is proposed for various health conditions, especially those related to immune function. The thymus gland, located behind the sternum, is crucial for immune system development, particularly in young children. Proponents suggest that thymus extracts may stimulate or normalize immune responses, potentially benefiting conditions like asthma, eczema, food allergies, autoimmune diseases, and even certain cancers. However, there is currently no reliable scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of thymus extracts for these claims.
Thymus extract supplements raise safety concerns, particularly regarding the risk of mad cow disease, as they may harbor pathogens from animal sources. Dosages can vary significantly, with some studies indicating potential benefits in reducing respiratory infections in children, and limited evidence for their use in adults and various other conditions. Despite preliminary findings suggesting their role in managing autoimmune disorders and inflammation, comprehensive research is still needed to validate these effects. As the regulatory oversight for thymus supplements is minimal in the U.S., experts caution against using these products unless they are certified free from infection risks.
Thymus extract as a therapeutic supplement
DEFINITION: Natural substance from nonhuman animals that is used as a supplement to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: None
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Asthma, eczema, food allergies, general immune support, hay fever, autoimmune disease, cancer, anti-aging
Overview
The thymus gland is found behind the sternum in the middle of the chest. It plays a significant role in the immune system, especially in fetuses and very young children. The theory behind using thymus extracts is that they might stimulate or normalize immunity. However, there is no reliable evidence that thymus extracts are effective for any health condition. Furthermore, there are significant safety concerns related to the use of thymus products.
Requirements and Sources
Thymus extract is produced primarily from cows' thymus glands, which has led to concerns regarding “mad cow disease” (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). All the studies described below used a pharmaceutical-grade form of thymus called Thymomodulin. It is not known whether the available thymus dietary supplements would have the same effect.
Therapeutic Dosages
The dosages of thymus extract used in studies has varied widely, depending on the particular thymus product used. In children with allergies or infections of the airway, around 120 milligrams (mg) of Thymomodulin (calf thymus extract) is the typical daily dosage. Adults receiving Thymomodulin (calf thymus extract) injections for weakened or enlarged hearts are given 10 mg three times per week for three months.
Therapeutic Uses
Two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials enrolling children with frequent respiratory infections, such as colds, found that thymus extract reduced the infection rate. In theory, this might indicate an immune-boosting effect. However, small studies cannot prove that a treatment is effective. Weak evidence from a rather convoluted trial hints that thymus extract may also help prevent adult respiratory infections.
Intensive athletic training can suppress immune function and lead to colds. However, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sixty athletes failed to find any significant evidence of benefit with thymus extract.
Preliminary evidence hints that thymus extracts may be helpful for food allergies, asthma, hay fever, and eczema. If thymus extract does help these conditions, it may do so not by boosting the immune system but by calming it down and causing it to behave more normally. Small double-blind trials of thymus extract for hepatitis B and C found marginal benefits at most. A 2022 study found that patients with ulcerative colitis who supplemented with thymus extract saw a marked decrease in inflammation.
Several other proposed therapeutic uses for thymus extracts exist. Thymus extracts’ effects on the immune system may make supplementation helpful for people with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Due to its immune-boosting powers, supplementation with thymus extract may be a potent adjuvant therapy for cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Thymus extract may also have anti-aging properties. More research is needed to confirm these claims.
Injectable forms of whole thymus extract or chemicals contained in it have been studied as treatments for numerous other conditions, including cancer, cold sores, dermatomyositis, eczema, genital warts, hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus infection, leukopenia (low white cell count), multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, respiratory infections, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and shingles (herpes zoster). The results of these studies have been mixed. The results of trials involving injected thymus cannot be considered applicable to oral thymus products.
Safety Issues
Thymus extracts have not been definitely associated with any side effects. However, there are real concerns that any glandular extract might contain the virus that causes mad cow disease. There is relatively little governmental regulation of thymus products sold as dietary supplements in the United States. Even when a ban is placed on importing cow glands from a country where mad cow disease has been found, the ban does not apply to dietary supplements. For this reason, experts recommend that people not use thymus products sold as dietary supplements unless they are certified as free from the risk of infection.
Bibliography
Abu-Alya, Ibrahim S., et al. "Effect of L-Carnitine and/or Calf Thymus Gland Extract Supplementation on Immunity, Antioxidant, Duodenal Histomorphometric, Growth, and Economic Performance of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)." Veterinary Sciences, vol. 8, no. 11, 2021, pp. 251, doi:10.3390/vetsci8110251.
Matta, Harshil, and Daisy Coyle. "9 Things to Know About Thymus Extract." Healthline, 6 Oct. 2020, www.healthline.com/health/9-things-to-know-thymus-extract. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.
"Thymus Extracts." PeaceHealth, www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/hn-2916001. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.
Vazirian, Fatemeh, et al. "Evaluation of the Efficacy of Thymus kotschyanus Extract as an Additive Treatment in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial." Inflammopharmacology, vol. 30, no. 6, 2022, pp. 2145-2152, doi.org/10.1007/s10787-022-00991-3. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.