ACTIONS
The different glandulars and glandular extracts have various putative
activities. Thymus and spleen extracts have putative immunomodulatory
activities. Thyroid extracts have putative activity in managing hypothyroidism.
Adrenal extracts have putative antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activities.
Testis extracts have putative androgenic activity, and ovary extracts have
putative estrogenic activity.
MECHANISM OF ACTION
For the most part, the various putative actions of the glandulars may be
explained by the hormones and other factors that these tissue extracts contain.
However, most of the glandulars marketed as nutritional supplements are unlikely
to have physiologically meaningful levels of these bioactive substances. Some
immune-modulatory substances have been isolated from thymus extracts as well as
spleen extracts. Desiccated natural thyroid is available as a prescription drug
for the management of hypothyroidism. The pharmaceutical preparation is
standardized and contains both thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Thyroid extracts
marketed as nutritional supplements are not allowed to have these hormones in
them. Adrenal extracts may contain some cortisol. Cortisol does have
anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities, but the amount of cortisol in
the supplements is likely to be too low to have meaningful physiological
activity. Testis extracts and ovary extracts contain testosterone and estrogen,
respectively, but again, the amount of these hormones in the glandular
supplements are unlikely to be physiologically significant.
PHARMACOKINETICS
The components of the various glandular supplements are digested, absorbed
and metabolized by normal physiological processes.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Glandulars are said to have gland-restorative activity, immunomodulatory
effects, androgenic and estrogenic properties and various rejuvenating
qualities. A pharmaceutical thyroid preparation is used to treat hypothyroidism,
but supplemental thyroid products are not useful for this purpose and should not
be substituted for pharmaceutical therapy. Testis and ovary supplements,
similarly, should not be substituted for androgen and estrogen therapies
recommended by physicians. Claims, including antiallergy and anti-inflammatory
claims, made for glandular supplements are not supported by credible evidence.
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