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Liver extract is a product that comes from animal liver, most commonly from cattle. Liver extract is used to make medicine.
Liver extract is used for improving liver function, treating chronic liver diseases, preventing liver damage, and regenerating liver tissue. It is also used for allergies; chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); enhancing muscle development in bodybuilders; improving stamina, strength, and physical endurance; removing chemicals from the body (detoxification); and as an aid to recovery from chemical addiction or poisoning.
How does it work?
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.
QUESTION
Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See AnswerPossibly 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 to Rate Effectiveness for...
- 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.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
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.
SLIDESHOW
Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See SlideshowToo 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.
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.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Dahm, K. [Severe anaphylactic shock in liver hydrolysate therapy]. Med.Klin. 9-29-1967;62(39):1510-1511. View abstract.
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. View abstract.
Fichtelius, K. E. and Kullgren, B. Cell dispersing liver extract influencing blood clotting. Nature 1-8-1966;209(19):167-169. View abstract.
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.
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. View abstract.
Grabner, P., Semb, L. S., and Myren, J. Comparison of gastric secretory response in man to duodenal and jejunal liver extract perfusion. Scand.J.Gastroenterol. 1979;14(4):385-388. View abstract.
Grabner, P., Semb, L. S., Schrumpf, E., and Myren, J. The intestinal phase of gastric secretion. Response to liver extract infusion into the proximal jejunum of healthy human subjects. Scand.J.Gastroenterol. 1976;11(4):415-419. View abstract.
Ito, H., Miyazaki, M., Nishimura, F., and Nakajima, N. Haptotactic migration of pancreatic cancer cells induced by bioactive components in bovine liver extract. J.Surg.Oncol. 1998;68(3):153-158. View abstract.
Kaslow JE, Rucker L, Onishi R. Liver extract-folic acid-cyanocobalamin vs placebo for chronic fatigue syndrome. Arch Intern Med 1989;149:2501-3. View abstract.
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. View abstract.
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: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr05.html.
Lewis, C. J. Letter to Reiterate Certain Public Health and Safety Concerns to Firms Manufacturing or Importing Dietary Supplements that Contain Specific Bovine Tissues. 11-14-2000;
Murray MT. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Rocklin, CA: Prima Health, 1996.
Nilsson, G. Inhibition of protein and nucleic acid synthesis of animal cells in vitro mediated by high molecular weight inhibitors in human liver extract. Biochim.Biophys.Acta 2-5-1976;418(3):376-396. View abstract.
Nilsson, G. Thymidine and uridine metabolism at cell growth inhibition of HeLa cells by human liver extract. Exp.Cell Res. 1970;59(2):207-216. View abstract.
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. View abstract.
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. View abstract.
Pegg, A. E., Roberfroid, M., von Bahr, C., Foote, R. S., Mitra, S., Bresil, H., Likhachev, A., and Montesano, R. Removal of O6-methylguanine from DNA by human liver fractions. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.U.S.A 1982;79(17):5162-5165. View abstract.
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. View abstract.
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. View abstract.
Schwarz, S. O. and LeGere, H. Treatment of liver extract sensitivity. Blood 1946;1(4):307-316.
Soonattrakul, W., Andersen, B. R., and Bryner, J. H. Raw liver as a possible source of Vibrio fetus septicemia in man. Am.J.Med.Sci. 1971;261(5):245-249. View abstract.
Su, H. L., Huang, M. H., Yu, C. L., Han, S. H., Chiang, B. N., and Wang, S. R. The mechanisms of inhibitory effects of liver extract on lymphocyte proliferation: II. Inhibition of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis and their relationship to the effects of metabolic inhibitors. Clin.Exp.Immunol. 1988;72(2):228-232. View abstract.
Taira, N., Yoshifuji, H., and Boray, J. C. Zoonotic potential of infection with Fasciola spp. by consumption of freshly prepared raw liver containing immature flukes. Int.J.Parasitol. 1997;27(7):775-779. View abstract.
Yokochi, S., Ishiwata, Y., Saito, H., Ebinuma, H., Tsuchiya, M., and Ishii, H. Stimulation of antiviral activities of interferon by a liver extract preparation. Arzneimittelforschung. 1997;47(8):968-974. View abstract.