Liver Extract
OTHER NAME(S): Aqueous Liver Extract, Concentré de Foie, Concentré de Foie Néonatal, Desiccated Liver, Desiccated Pork Liver, Extracto de Hígado, Extrait Aqueux de Foie, Extrait de Foie, Extrait de Foie Hydrolysé, Extrait Liquide de Foie, Facteurs Hépatiques, Foie Cru, Foie Desséché, Foie de Porc Desséché, Fractions de Foie, Fractions Hépatiques, Fractions Liquides de Foie, Hydrolysat de Foie, Hydrolyzed Liver Extract, Liquid Liver Extract, Liquid Liver Fractions, Liver, Liver Concentrate, Liver Fraction II, Liver Factors, Liver Fractions, Liver Hydrolysate, Liver Substance, Neonatal Liver Concentrate, Raw Liver, Substance de Foie, Substance Hépatique, None., Extracto De Hígado, Extrait De Foie
Overview
Liver extract is a product that comes from animal liver, most commonly from cattle. Liver extract is used to make medicine.
People take liver extract by mouth or by injection for various conditions, especially for liver health or as a source of iron and vitamin B12, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Liver extract contains vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron. In animals, it seems to increase the number of liver cells. It is not known how liver extract might work for medicinal uses in people.
Liver extract contains vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron. In animals, it seems to increase the number of liver cells. It is not known how liver extract might work for medicinal uses in people.
Uses
Possibly Ineffective for
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Some research suggests that injecting a combination of bovine liver extract, folic acid, and vitamin B12 for 3 weeks does not seem to improve fatigue in people with CFS.
Insufficient Evidence for
- Swelling (inflammation) of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (hepatitis C). Early research suggests that injecting liver extract plus flavin adenine dinucleotide intravenously (by IV) or as a shot into the muscle might improve response to interferon-alpha or interferon-beta therapy in people with hepatitis C.
- Improving liver function.
- Preventing liver damage.
- Treating liver diseases.
- Treating allergies.
- Improving muscle development.
- Improving strength and physical endurance.
- Removing chemicals from the body (detoxification).
- Recovery from chemical addiction.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of liver extract for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough information to know if liver extract is safe. Since some preparations of liver extract come from animals, there is concern about possible contamination from diseased animals. However, so far there are no reports of diseases in humans that were caused by ingestion of contaminated liver.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough information to know if liver extract is safe. Since some preparations of liver extract come from animals, there is concern about possible contamination from diseased animals. However, so far there are no reports of diseases in humans that were caused by ingestion of contaminated liver.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if liver extract is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Too much iron in the body, including a condition called hemochromatosis: Liver extract contains iron and might make iron metabolism disorders worse. If you have one of these disorders, don't use liver extract.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Liver Extract overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of liver extract depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for liver extract. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Lewis CJ. Letter to reiterate certain public health and safety concerns to firms manufacturing or importing dietary supplements that contain specific bovine tissues. FDA. Available at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr05.html.
- Murray MT. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Rocklin, CA: Prima Health, 1996.
- Fukuda Y, Sawata M, Washizuka M, et al. [Effect of liver hydrolysate on hepatic proliferation in regenerating rat liver]. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi 1999;114:233-8.
- Kaslow JE, Rucker L, Onishi R. Liver extract-folic acid-cyanocobalamin vs placebo for chronic fatigue syndrome. Arch Intern Med 1989;149:2501-3.
- Fukuda, Y., Sawata, M., Washizuka, M., Higashino, R., Fukuta, Y., Tanaka, Y., and Takei, M. [Effect of liver hydrolysate on hepatic proliferation in regenerating rat liver]. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi 1999;114(4):233-238.
- Preziosi, P., Nistico, G., and Marano, V. Double-blind study of a total liver extract in patients with hepatic dysfunction. Int.J.Clin.Pharmacol.Biopharm. 1975;11(3):210-215.
- Ebinuma, H., Saito, H., Tada, S., Masuda, T., Kamiya, T., Nishida, J., Yoshioka, M., and Ishii, H. Additive therapeutic effects of the liver extract preparation mixture adelavin-9 on interferon-beta treatment for chronic hepatitis C. Hepatogastroenterology 2004;51(58):1109-1114.
- Castellani, A., Colafelice, M., and Fichera, M. [Hepatoprotective effect of a combination of UDPG, vitamin B 12 and liver extract in psychiatric patients with liver diseases]. Clin.Ter. 9-30-1978;86(6):567-576.
- Kondoh, K., Imaide, Y., Uchida, M., and Watanabe, H. [Effect of the administration of liver extract after surgical operations in urology]. Hinyokika Kiyo 1986;32(1):163-167.
- Pallotti, S., Paolucci, D., and Isidori, A. Hepatic activity in the generation of somatomedins: effects of administration of a liver extract. Int.J.Clin.Pharmacol.Biopharm. 1978;16(8):351-356.
- Pallotti, S., Paolucci, D., Santoro, S., and Rotolo, A. [Metabolism of somatotropin in severe liver diseases. Influence of the therapeutic administration of a liver extract]. Minerva Med. 11-14-1978;69(55):3779-3783.
- Saito, H., Ebinuma, H., Tada, S., Tsunematsu, S., Atsukawa, K., Masuda, T., Tsuchiya, M., and Ishii, H. Enhancing effect of the liver extract and flavin adenin dinucleotide mixture on anti-viral efficacy of interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Keio J.Med. 1996;45(1):48-53.
- Yamada K, Ueda K, Shirakawa H, et al. The effect of liver hydrolysate on chronic ethanol-induced hepatic injury in normal rats. Biol Pharm Bull 2020;43(3):554-7.