THYMUS EXTRACT: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

The human thymus gland is responsible for making important immune cells, such as T-cells. Thymus extract comes from the thymus glands of cows.

Thymus extract might help increase immune function. But the quality and potency of thymus extract products can vary greatly.

People use thymus extract for a weakened and enlarged heart (dilated cardiomyopathy) and infections of the airways. It is also used for asthma, food allergies, hay fever, cold sores, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.

Since thymus extract products come from cows, they are at risk for contamination with diseases. This has raised concerns about whether thymus extract can cause infections in humans, but there are no reports of this happening.

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for

Weakened and enlarged heart (dilated cardiomyopathy). Taking calf thymus extract along with usual therapy may improve heart function, some symptoms, and the ability to exercise in some people with dilated cardiomyopathy and reduced heart function.
Infection of the airways. Taking thymus extract by mouth might help to reduce the number of infections or coughing attacks in people who get a lot of airway infections.

There is interest in using thymus extract for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Thymus extract is possibly safe when used appropriately. It seems to be well-tolerated. Because thymus extract comes from animals, there is concern about contamination with diseases. But so far, there are no reports of infections in humans due to use of contaminated thymus extract.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if thymus extract is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Weakened immune system: People who have a weakened immune system or people who are taking drugs to weaken their immune system have a higher risk of infection. These people should avoid thymus extract products unless these products are certified germ-free.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants) interacts with THYMUS EXTRACT
Thymus extract is made from animals. There is some concern that products made from animals might contain harmful diseases and cause infections. Taking medications that decrease the immune system might increase your chances of getting sick from taking thymus extract. Do not take thymus extract unless these products are certified germ-free.

Dosing

Calf thymus extract has most often been used by adults in doses of 80-120 mg by mouth daily for up to 4 months. Similar doses have been used in children of at least 7 months of age. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.

View References

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Osband, M. E., Lipton, J. M., Lavin, P., Levey, R., Vawter, G., Greenberger, J. S., McCaffrey, R. P., and Parkman, R. Histiocytosis-X. N.Engl.J Med 1-15-1981;304(3):146-153. View abstract.

Palmieri, G., Gridelli, C., Pepe, R., Airoma, G., Iaffaioli, R. V., Frasci, G., Caponigro, F., and Bianco, A. R. Partial response of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma after treatment with thymostimulin. Tumori 2-28-1990;76(1):61-63. View abstract.

Pandolfi, F., Quinti, I., Montella, F., Voci, M. C., Schipani, A., Urasia, G., and Aiuti, F. T-dependent immunity in aged humans. II. Clinical and immunological evaluation after three months of administering a thymic extract. Thymus 1983;5(3-4):235-240. View abstract.

Park, C. S., Li, L., and Lau, B. H. Thymic peptide modulates glutathione redox cycle and antioxidant enzymes in macrophages. J Leukoc.Biol. 1994;55(4):496-500. View abstract.

Periti, P., Tonelli, F., Mazzei, T., and Ficari, F. Antimicrobial chemoimmunoprophylaxis in colorectal surgery with cefotetan and thymostimulin: prospective, controlled multicenter study. Italian Study Group on Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Abdominal Surgery. J Chemother. 1993;5(1):37-42. View abstract.

Pernice, W., Stahn, R., Fabricius, H. A., and Klingshirn, R. Steroid economising effects of a calf thymus extract in three patients with juvenile chronic arthritis. Klin Wochenschr. 4-15-1983;61(8):429-431. View abstract.

Perotti, F., Landi, G., Primatesta, F., Colombo, A., David, P. G., Castellaro, E., and Baraldi, U. [Thymostimulin immunoprophylaxis in elective abdominal surgery]. Minerva Chir 6-30-1992;47(12):1091-1093. View abstract.

Pivetti-Pezzi, P., De Liso, P., Tamburi, S., Luzi, G., Sirianni, M. C., Palmisano, L., and Aiuti, F. Thymic factor therapy for herpetic keratitis. Ann Ophthalmol. 1985;17(6):327-331. View abstract.

Politowski, M., Turowski, G., Nawrocka-Jarosz, B., and Zubel, M. Pre- and postoperative immunologic reactivity of patients with the ischemic disease of lower limbs. The immunostimulating effect of the thymus extract--TFX. Mater.Med Pol. 1979;11(4):339-344. View abstract.

Pontiggia, P., Ogier, C., and Follini, G. D. Effect of treatment with thymustimulin (Tp-1) on T and B cells in lymphoproliferative disorders. Blut 1983;47(3):153-156. View abstract.

Raymond, R. S., Fallon, M. B., and Abrams, G. A. Oral thymic extract for chronic hepatitis C in patients previously treated with interferon. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 11-15-1998;129(10):797-800. View abstract.

Rimoldi, R., Brunetta, F., Fioretti, M., Bandera, M., and Ghione, M. Thymostimulin in malignant pleural effusions. Int J Tissue React. 1984;6(1):53-55. View abstract.

Romanov, V. A., Borodin, A. G., and Krylov, V. L. [The use of taktivin for modulating the functional activity of the neutrophilic granulocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]. Ter.Arkh. 1992;64(5):65-69. View abstract.

Romanski, B., Montowska, L., Zbikowska-Gotz, M., and Staszynska, M. [Clinical trial of treatment with the preparation TFX "Polfa" of 4 patients with acquired immunologic deficiency syndromes]. Pol.Tyg.Lek. 10-7-1985;40(40-41):1139-1142. View abstract.

Romeo, F., Arcoria, D., Palmisano, L., and Polosa, P. Effectiveness of thymostimulin treatment in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive chronic active liver disease. Results of a randomized clinical trial. Arzneimittelforschung 1985;35(8):1317-1322. View abstract.

Romeo, F., Palmisano, L., and Arcoria, D. Thymostimulin in the treatment of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive chronic active hepatitis. Controlled clinical trial--two years follow-up. Arzneimittelforschung 1987;37(4):450-456. View abstract.

Sakalo, E. A., Malyzhev, V. A., and Danilova, A. I. [Use of T-activin and prodigiozan in combined treatment of patients with diabetic retinopathy]. Oftalmol.Zh. 1988;(4):204-207. View abstract.

Salvati, F., Pallotta, G., Antilli, A., Nunziati, F., De Marinis, F., and Lucchesi, M. [MACC plus thymostimulin (TP-1 Serono) therapy of small cell bronchogenic carcinoma. Clinico-immunologic evaluation of the results of a randomized trial]. G Ital Chemioter. 1984;31(1-2):185-189. View abstract.

Samsygin, S. A., Schastnyi, S. A., Vlasenko, V. V., Dolgina, E. N., and Ekk, N. D. [Immunologic correction in the treatment of chronic hematogenic osteomyelitis of long tubular bones in children]. Vestn.Akad.Med Nauk SSSR 1991;(12):50-54. View abstract.

Sanchiz, F. and Milla, A. A randomised study comparing granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) with G-CSF plus thymostimulin in the treatment of haematological toxicity in patients with advanced breast cancer after high dose mitoxantrone therapy. Eur.J Cancer 1996;32A(1):52-56. View abstract.

Schiavon, M., Chiarelli, A., Lohr, G., and Mazzoleni, F. Thymostimulin in the antiinfectious treatment in patients with burns. Arzneimittelforschung 1987;37(5):557-560. View abstract.

Schuff-Werner, P., Lohr, G., Rauschning, W., Schroder, M., Musil, J., and Nagel, G. A. [Effect of thymostimulin on chemotherapy-induced changes in lymphocyte subset distribution. A longitudinal study in patients with primary inoperable oropharyngeal cancers]. Onkologie. 1987;10(3 Suppl):17-21. View abstract.

Simon, H. U., Roth, H., Forner, K., and Haroske, D. [Immunological status of patients with recurrent herpes simplex infections. In vitro effect of thymopoietin and splenin-derived and partially modified peptides on peripheral blood lymphocytes in comparison to a thymus extract]. Allerg.Immunol (Leipz.) 1990;36(2):111-118. View abstract.

Skotnicki, A. B., Aleksandrowicz, J., and Lisiewicz, J. [Effect of the calf thymus extract on immunologic reactivity in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia (author's transl)]. Przegl.Lek. 1976;33(3):387-388. View abstract.

Skotnicki, A. B., Aleksandrowicz, J., and Lislewicz, J. Effect of the calf thymus extract on immunologic reactivity in patients with hypogammaglobulinaemia. Boll.Ist.Sieroter.Milan 1975;54(6):500-501. View abstract.

Skripkin, IuK, Biriukov, A. V., Stenina, M. A., Skripnik, A. I., and Korotkii, N. G. [Clinical effectiveness of T-activin in the treatment of cutaneous forms of lupus erythematosus]. Vestn.Dermatol.Venerol. 1985;(5):8-11. View abstract.

Slomkowski, M. [A trial of treatment with thymus factor (TFX) for chronic autoimmune hemolytic anemias]. Pol.Merkuriusz.Lek. 1996;1(5):327-328. View abstract.

Smogorzewska, E. M., Korczynska, M., and Golebiowska, H. The effect of calf thymus extract (TFX) on human T lymphocyte and neutrophil mobility and chemotactic response in vitro. Thymus 1985;7(4):257-260. View abstract.

Sobczyk, W., Kulczycki, J., Pilkowska, E., Iwinska, B., Milewska, D., and Szmigielski, S. [Comparison of the results of the treatment of patients with SSPE using various immunomodulating preparations]. Neurol Neurochir.Pol. 1991;25(5):626-633. View abstract.

Stanojevic-Bakic, N., Milosevic, D., Vuckovic-Dekic, L., Sasic, M., and Markovic, L. Clinical and immunologic effects of T-activin therapy in early stage melanoma patients. Neoplasma 1996;43(4):245-252. View abstract.

Tas, M., Leezenberg, J. A., and Drexhage, H. A. Beneficial effects of the thymic hormone preparation thymostimulin in patients with defects in cell-mediated immunity and chronic purulent rhinosinusitis. A double-blind cross-over trial on improvements in monocyte polarization and clinical effects. Clin Exp Immunol. 1990;80(3):304-313. View abstract.

Tsertsvadze, T., Shavdia, N., Mebonia, I., Shartava, T., Gvaberidze, M., and Aladashvili, M. Immunorehabilitation in patients with herpes simplex. Ann N.Y.Acad.Sci 6-23-1993;685:762-764. View abstract.

Turowski, G., Cybulski, L., Politowski, M., Turaszwili, T., and Zubel, M. First trials of immunopotentiation by thymus extract (TFX) in surgical patients with malignant disease. Acta Med Pol. 1976;17(1):19-39. View abstract.

Turowski, G., Sanokowska, E., and Dynowska, D. Trials of thymus extract TFX administration in dermatological patients resistant to conventional treatment methods. Mater.Med Pol. 1988;20(2):128-131. View abstract.

Turowski, G., Urban, A., Cybulski, L., Turaszwili, T., and Zubel, M. Immunological and patho-clinical observations of a patient with rectal carcinoma after long term administration of thymic extract (TFX). Pol.Med Sci Hist Bull. 1976;15(1):51-58. View abstract.

Vainiene, M. and Sobczyk, W. [Evaluation of the results of the treatment of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis with TFX-Polfa]. Neurol Neurochir.Pol. 1985;19(4):286-290. View abstract.

Velardi, A., Gerli, R., Rambotti, P., Spinozzi, F., Cernetti, C., Angelini, A., and Martelli, M. F. The in vitro effect of a calf thymus extract (thymostimulin) on T cell phenotypes in cord blood lymphocytes. Am J Reprod.Immunol 1982;2(5):250-253. View abstract.

Vuckovic-Dekic, L. J., Susnjar, S., Stanojevic-Bakic, N., Rajner, L., and Frim, O. The protective activity of Thymex L against radiotherapeutically-induced cellular immunodepression in lung cancer patients. Neoplasma 1992;39(3):171-176. View abstract.

Wang, H., Chen, Y., Zhang, H., and et al. Effects of sucking pig thymic peptides on proliferation and activation of mouse T lymphocytes. Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal 1998;33(12):726-728.

Wyszynska, Z., Blonska, B., and Czaplicki, J. [Trial use of embryonal and early-fetal thymus extracts in the treatment of non-healing skin defects. II. Crural ulcers in humans]. Przegl.Dermatol. 1987;74(4-5):309-315. View abstract.

Yalkut, S. I., Baraboi, V. A., Zhukova, V. M., Zinchenko, V. A., Yudina, O. Yu., Zauer, N. V., Kovbasyuk, S. A., Voeikova, I. M., and Savtsova, Z. D. Influence of low molecular thymic factors on postradiation and chemically induced cytosuppression in experiment. Ekseperimentalnaia Onkologiia 1995;17(2):145-150.

Zdunczyk, A., Aleksandrowicz, J., and Skotnicki, A. B. [Clinical trial of the treatment of dermatomyositis with TFX Polfa]. Pol.Tyg.Lek. 9-30-1985;40(39):1103-1105. View abstract.

Zhukova, E. M. [Tactivin in combined treatment of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis associated with gastrointestinal diseases]. Probl.Tuberk. 1995;(3):25-27. View abstract.

Aiuti F, Ammirati P, Fiorilli M, et al. Immunologic and clinical investigation on a bovine thymic extract. Therapeutic applications in primary immunoedificiencies. Pediatr Res 1979;13:797-802. View abstract.

Aiuti F, Sirianni MC, Fiorilli M, Paganelli R, et al. A placebo-controlled trial of thymic hormone treatment of recurrent herpes simplex labialis infection in immunodeficient host: results after a 1-year follow-up. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1984;30:11-8. View abstract.

Armerding D, Katz DH. Activation of T and B lymphocytes in vitro. IV. Regulatory influence on specific T cell functions by a thymus extract factor. J Immunol 1975;114:1248-54. View abstract.

Bagnato A, Brovedani P, Comina P, et al. Long-term treatment with thymomodulin reduces airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. Ann Allergy 1989;62:425-8. View abstract.

Banos V, Gomez J, Garcia A, et al. Effectiveness of immunomodulating treatment (thymostimulin) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respiration 1997;64:220-3. View abstract.

Calsini P, Mocchegiani E, Fabris N. The pharmacodynamics of thymomodulin in elderly humans. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1985;11:671-4. View abstract.

Cavagni G, Piscopo E, Rigoli E, et al. Food allergy in children: an attempt to improve the effects of the elimination diet with an immunomodulating agent (thymomodulin). A double-blind clinical trial. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 1989;11:131-42. View abstract.

De Martino M, Rossi ME, Muccioli AT, Vierucci A. T lymphocytes in children with recurrent respiratory infections: effect of the use of thymostimulin on the alterations of T-cell subsets. Int J Tissue React 1984;6:223-8. View abstract.

De Mattia D, Decandia P, Ferrante P, et al. Effectiveness of thymostimulin and study of lymphocyte-dependent antibacterial activity in children with recurrent respiratory infections. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 1993;15:447-59. View abstract.

Fiocchi A, Borella E, Riva E, et al. A double-blind clinical trial for the evaluation of the therapeutical effectiveness of a calf thymus derivative (Thymomodulin) in children with recurrent respiratory infections. Thymus 1986;8:331-9. View abstract.

Galli L, de Martino M, Azzari C, et al. [Preventive effect of thymomodulin in recurrent respiratory infections in children]. Pediatr Med Chir 1990;12:229-32. View abstract.

Galli M, Crocchiolo P, Negri C, et al. Attempt to treat acute type B hepatitis with an orally administered thymic extract (thymomodulin): preliminary results. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1985;11:665-9. View abstract.

Genova R, Guerra A. [A thymus extract (thymomodulin) in the prevention of childhood asthma]. Pediatr Med Chir 1983;5:395-402. View abstract.

Genova R, Guerra A. Thymomodulin in management of food allergy in children. Int J Tissue React 1986;8:239-42. View abstract.

Hegarty JE, Nouri Aria KT, Eddleston AL, Williams R. Controlled trial of a thymic hormone extract (Thymostimulin) in autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. Gut 1984;25:279-83. View abstract.

Iaffaioli RV, Frasci G, Tortora G, et al. Effect of thymic extract thymostimulin on the incidence of infections and myelotoxicity during adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Thymus 1988-89;12:69-75. View abstract.

Kenady DE, Chretien PB, Potvin C, Simon RM. Thymosin reconstitution of T-cell deficits in vitro in cancer patients. Cancer 1977;39:575-80. View abstract.

Kouttab NM, Prada M, Cazzola P. Thymomodulin: biological properties and clinical applications. Med Oncol Tumor Pharmacother 1989;6:5-9. View abstract.

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Lin CY, Hsu CH, Liu KC, et al. Serial immunologic and histopathologic studies in the treatment of necrotizing fasciitis with combined immunodeficiency by a bovine thymic extract (thymostimulin). J Pediatr Surg 1986;21:1000-4. View abstract.

Lin CY, Hsu HC, Chen CL, Shen EY. Treatment of combined immunodeficiency with thymic extract (Thymostimulin). Ann Allergy 1987;58:379-84. View abstract.

Longo F, Lepore L, Agosti E, Panizon F. [Evaluation of the effectiveness of thymomodulin in children with recurrent respiratory infections]. Pediatr Med Chir 1988;10:603-7. View abstract.

Maiorano V, Chianese R, Fumarulo R, et al. Thymomodulin increases the depressed production of superoxide anion by alveolar macrophages in patients with chronic bronchitis. Int J Tissue React 1989;11:21-5. View abstract.

Marzari R, Mazzanti P, Cazzola P, Pirodda E. [Perennial allergic rhinitis. Prophylaxis of acute episodes using thymomodulin]. Minerva Med 1987;78:1675-81. View abstract.

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Nationwide alert on hallmark labs injectable adrenal cortex extract. FDA. Available at: www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00539.html

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Valesini G, Barnaba V, Benvenuto R, et al. A calf thymus acid lysate improves clinical symptoms and T-cell defects in the early stages of HIV infection: second report. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol 1987;23:1915-9. View abstract.

Vettori G, Lazzaro A, Mazzanti P, Cazzola P. [Prevention of recurrent respiratory infections in adults]. Minerva Med 1987;78:1281-9. View abstract.

Zeman K, Dworniak D, Tchorzewski H, et al. Effect of thymic extract on allogeneic MLR and mitogen-induced responses in patients with chronic active hepatitis B. Immunol Invest 1991;20:545-55. View abstract.

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