Introduction

Thymus is a gland in the chest that helps the body fight disease. Thymus extract is taken from the glands of cows. It has been used to help the body fight illness. Thymus extract can be taken as a pill.

Dosages

There are no advised doses for thymus extract.

What Research Shows

There is not enough data to support that thymus extract is helpful in treating health problems. We will review future studies as they are published.1

Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.

Safety Notes

It is likely safe to take thymus extract in small doses for a short time. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to take for a long period. It is also not known whether it is safe to take by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Interactions

Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.

 

References

1. Ernst E, Schmidt K, et al. Complementary/Alternative therapies for the treatment of breast cancer. A systematic review of randomized clinical trials and a critique of current terminology. Breast J. 2006 Nov-Dec;12(6):526-530.

Last reviewed July 2019 by EBSCO NAT Review Board Eric Hurwitz, DC