Ora-Triplex Raw Thymus, Spleen and Lymph Concentrates by Douglas Laboratories

There is insufficient reliable information available about the effectiveness of spleen extract.

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POSSIBLY EFFECTIVE

• Dilated cardiomyopathy. Clinical research in adults with dilated cardiomyopathy, with or without myocarditis, shows that taking thymomodulin (calf thymus extract) in combination with conventional therapy improves exercise tolerance, left ventricular ejection fraction, clinical symptoms, and survival over a 7-year follow-up period when compared with conventional therapy alone. Thymomodulin seems to be similarly effective to treatment with interferon-alpha and conventional therapy (78542,78556,78558).
• Food allergies. Clinical research in children 7 months to 14 years of age with food allergies shows that taking thymomodulin (calf thymus extract) while on an elimination diet improves tolerance to allergenic foods after completion of the elimination diet when compared to an elimination diet alone (1175,1176).
• Respiratory tract infections. Clinical research shows that taking thymus extract orally may be beneficial for preventing recurrent respiratory infections in adults and children (938,6696,6697,6698,6699). Thymomodulin (calf thymus extract) treatment seems to reduce the number of infections or coughing attacks in patients with recurrent respiratory infections when compared to baseline or placebo (6697,6698,6699). It might also modestly reduce the use of antibiotics and the duration of infection (938).

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Preliminary clinical research shows that taking thymomodulin (calf thymus extract) 120 mg daily reduces the frequency of allergic episodes in patients with allergic rhinitis when compared to baseline (1010). The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a comparator group.
• Asthma. Preliminary clinical research in children 2-12 years of age with asthma shows that taking thymomodulin (calf thymus extract) orally for 3 months reduces the frequency of acute asthma attacks when compared to baseline. Thymomodulin might also improve immune function (6694). The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a comparator group. More evidence is needed to rate thymus extract for these uses.

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There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of spleen extract. There is some concern about contamination with diseased animal parts since spleen extract preparations are derived from animals (1825). However, there are no reports of disease transmission to humans due to use of contaminated spleen extract.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

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POSSIBLY SAFE . .when used orally and appropriately. Purified thymus extract has been used with apparent safety in clinical trials (938,1010,1175,1176,1177,1178,6691,6694,6696,6697,6698,6699). There is some concern for contamination with diseased animal parts (1825). However, so far there are no reports of disease transmission to humans due to use of contaminated thymus extract. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of thymus extract when used parenterally.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

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General ...Adverse reactions have not been reported. However, a thorough evaluation of safety outcomes has not been conducted. There is some concern about contamination with bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) (1825). There have been no reports of BSE transfer to humans from contaminated spleen extract products. Until more is known, tell patients to avoid these products unless country of origin can be determined. Patients should avoid products that are produced in countries where BSE has been found.

Other ...Spleen extract is derived from raw animal spleens gathered from slaughterhouses, possibly from sick or diseased animals. Products made from contaminated or diseased organs might present a human health hazard. There is concern that spleen extracts produced from cows in countries where bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) has been reported might be contaminated with diseased tissue. Countries where BSE has been reported include Great Britain, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, Luxembourg, Ireland, Switzerland, Oman, and Belgium (1825). There have been no reports of BSE transfer to humans from contaminated spleen extract products. Until more is known, tell patients to avoid these products unless country of origin can be determined. Patients should avoid products that are produced in countries where BSE has been found.

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General ...Orally, thymus extract seems to be well tolerated. No adverse effects have been reported in clinical trials (938,1010,1175,1176,1177,1178,6691,6694,6696,6697,6698,6699). However, there is some concern about potential contamination. Thymus extract is derived from raw bovine thymus glands gathered from slaughterhouses, possibly from sick or diseased animals (6620). Products made from contaminated or diseased organs might present a human health hazard. There is also concern that thymus extract produced from cows in countries where bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) has been reported might be unsafe (1825). However, there are no reports of disease transfer to humans from contaminated thymus extract.

Immunologic ...In one case report, severe anaphylactic reaction associated with thymostimulin administration occurred in a 36-year-old male being treated for a neck tumor (78453).

Other ...Thymus extract is derived from raw bovine thymus glands gathered from slaughterhouses, possibly from sick or diseased animals (6620). Products made from contaminated or diseased organs might present a human health hazard. However, there are no reports of disease transfer to humans from contaminated thymus extract.
There is also some concern that thymus extract that is obtained from cows in countries where bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) has been reported might be unsafe. However, there are no reports of BSE transfer to humans from contaminated thymus extract. Countries where BSE has been reported include Great Britain, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, Luxembourg, Ireland, Switzerland, Oman, and Belgium (1825). Until more is known, tell patients to avoid these products unless country of origin can be determined. Patients should avoid products that are produced in countries where BSE has been found.

(Read more about THYMUS EXTRACT)