Thymus Extract Usage

Two double-blind placebo-controlled trials enrolling children with frequent respiratory infections, such as colds , found that treatment with thymus extract reduced the rate of infection. ¹ In theory, this might indicate an immune-boosting effect. However, small studies cannot provide reliable proof that a treatment is effective. Weak evidence from a rather convoluted trial hints that thymus extract may also be helpful for preventing respiratory infections in adults. ²

Intensive athletic training can suppress immune function and lead to colds, as well. However, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 60 athletes failed to find any significant evidence of benefit with thymus extract. ³ Preliminary evidence hints that thymus extracts may be helpful for food allergies , ⁴ asthma , ⁵ hay fever , ⁶ and eczema . If thymus extract really does help these conditions, it may do so not by boosting the immune system, but rather 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. ^{7 8 9} Injectable forms of whole thymus extract or chemicals contained in it have been studied as a treatment for numerous other conditions, including cancer , cold sores , dermatomyositis, eczema , genital warts, hepatitis , HIV infection , leukopenia (low white cell count), multiple sclerosis , psoriasis , respiratory infections , rheumatoid arthritis , scleroderma , and shingles (herpes zoster) . ^{10 11 12 13 14 15 16} The results of these studies have been mixed. In any case, trials involving injected thymus cannot be considered applicable to oral thymus products.