glandular products

Glandular products are nutritional supplements prepared with extracts from dried organ tissues of animals such as cows, pigs or sheep. Glands form part of the body’s endocrine system, a network of organs that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. Endocrine glands include pineal, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, adrenal, pancreas, and gonads (testes and ovaries). Glandular products taken as supplements, however, also refer to extracts from other organs such as the heart, spleen, uterus, prostate, brain, and other tissues.

Glandular products have been historically used to enhance the function or mimic the effect of the corresponding organ in the body. Glandular products contain vitamins, minerals, enzymes, peptides, nucleotides, and other nutrients, specific to each organ. Organ meats are valued for their rich nutrient content in cultures where they are consumed as food. Studies show glandular products taken as supplements have efficacy for their listed uses, however, it is safer to take them in consultation with a healthcare provider and avoid over-the-counter (OTC) products.

Uses

Glandular products and their suggested uses include the following:

Adrenal extract

• Oral: Low adrenal function, fatigue, stress, impaired resistance to illness, severe allergies, asthma, eczema, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions
• Sublingual: Fatigue or exhaustion, poor stress tolerance, allergies, auto-immune disorders, depression, inflammation, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, drug and alcohol withdrawal, and discontinuing cortisone drugs
• Intravenous (IV): Adrenocortical insufficiency, hyperkalemia, ulcerative colitis, status thymicolymphaticus, and preventing spontaneous abortion

Aortic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)

• Vascular insufficiencies

Liver extract

• Adjunctive therapy in liver disorders, source of heme iron, allergies, chronic fatigue syndrome, enhancing muscle development in bodybuilders, and improving strength and stamina

Pancreas extract

• Digestive aid (with food), anti-inflammatory, herpes zoster, and immune complex diseases

Spleen extract

• Post-splenectomy, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), colitis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), low white blood cell (WBC) count, thrombocytopenia, ulcerative colitis, and enhancing immune function in cancer patients

Thymus extract

• Immune system modulation (upper respiratory infection [URI], hepatitis B, AIDS, allergies), cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), lupus, WBC production in cancer patients treated with radiation or chemotherapy, and aging

Thyroid extract

• Hypothyroidism

Warnings

• Do not take glandular products if you are hypersensitive to animal products including ovine/bovine/porcine extracts.
• Glandular extracts are usually prepared from organs gathered from slaughterhouses, which presents a potential risk for infection from contaminants.
• Avoid taking glandular products from countries where the cattle disease bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, occurs.

Common side effects of glandular products include:

• Allergic reactions
• Hyperthyroidism symptoms from thyroid extracts (dose-related)
• Iron overload from liver extracts
• Infection and other complications from contaminants in the product (rare)

Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms or serious side effects while using this drug:

• Serious heart symptoms include fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness;
• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady;
• Severe nervous system reaction with very stiff muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, and feeling like you might pass out; or
• Serious eye symptoms include blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.

This is not a complete list of all side effects or adverse reactions that may occur from the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may also report side effects or health problems to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Appropriate dosages vary depending on the product and there is inadequate information to determine a standard appropriate dosing. Follow the manufacturer’s label.

Suggested dosages:

Adrenal extract

• Varies depending on product; follow label recommendations, and titrate as indicated

Aortic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)

• Typical Dose
  • 100 mg orally once daily
• Cerebrovascular disease
  • 100-144 mg/day orally
  • 30 mg intramuscular (IM) twice daily
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • 72 mg/day orally
• Hypertriglyceridemia
  • 96 mg/day orally

Liver extract

• Varies depending on product; follow label recommendations, and titrate as indicated

Pancreas USP extract

• 500-1000 mg orally thrice daily, with or without meals

Spleen extract

• 1.5 g spleen peptides (50 mg tuftsin and splenopentin)/day

Thymus extract

• 120 mg pure polypeptides or 750 mg crude polypeptide fraction/day

Thyroid extract

• Varies depending on product; follow label recommendations, and titrate as indicated

Overdose

• Overdose of glandular products can have serious adverse effects because each product can overstimulate the particular organ’s function. For instance, overdose of thyroid extract can lead to overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and overdose of liver extract can cause iron overload.
• Treatment of glandular products overdose includes discontinuation of the product and appropriate symptomatic and supportive care.

Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking, who can advise you on any possible drug interactions. Never begin taking, suddenly discontinue, or change the dosage of any medication without your doctor’s recommendation.

• Glandular products have no listed serious, severe, or moderate interactions with other drugs.
• Mild interactions of glandular products include:
  • levothyroxine
  • liothyronine
  • thyroid desiccated

The drug interactions listed above are not all of the possible interactions or adverse effects. For more information on drug interactions, visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker.

It is important to always tell your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider about all prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, as well as the dosage for each, and keep a list of the information. Check with your doctor or healthcare provider if you have any questions about the medication.

• There is no reliable information on the safety of glandular products use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Avoid taking glandular products if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless specifically prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• Never take any nutritional supplement including glandular products without first checking with your healthcare provider, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• Take glandular products exactly as prescribed, or as per label instructions if you use OTC products.
• Check with your healthcare provider before taking any dietary/nutritional supplement, including glandular products.
• Dietary supplements often contain many ingredients. Check labels for the components in the glandular product you choose.
• Glandular products are marketed as nutritional supplements and are not stringently regulated by the FDA. Products may differ in formulations and strengths, and labels may not always match contents; exercise caution in choosing your product.
• Store glandular products safely out of reach of children.
• In case of overdose, seek medical help or contact Poison Control.