Weighing about 7 ounces, the spleen is the largest mass of lymphatic tissue in the body. The spleen produces white blood cells, engulfs and destroys bacteria and cellular debris, and destroys worn-out red blood cells and platelets. However, there do not appear to be any more recent studies with these sorts of preparations. Most of the recent research with spleen extracts has focused on the use of injectable preparations or isolated spleen proteins like tuftsin and splenopentin. Although these preparations have been shown to enhance immune function , it is not known if the same benefits can be obtained with oral preparations.
Spleen extracts are available as nutritional supplements in capsules and tablets.
As spleen extract is not an essential nutrient, no deficiency state exists. The recommended amount depends on the concentration, method of preparation, and quality of the extract. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation on the label. No side effects or adverse effects have been reported with the use of oral spleen preparations. At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with spleen extracts.