Peptides of pineal gland and thymus prolong human life.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial according to publication type indexing
What was done
Researchers evaluated the geroprotective effects of thymic (Thymalin) and pineal (Epithalamin) peptide bioregulators in 266 elderly and older persons followed for 6 to 8 years. Bioregulators were administered during the first 2 to 3 years of observation in main cohorts, while a separate cohort received annual combination therapy for 6 years, with outcomes compared to a control group.
What was found
Peptide treatment was reported to improve cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and nervous system indices. Compared to controls, acute respiratory disease incidence decreased 2.0- to 2.4-fold, with reduced clinical manifestations of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, deforming osteoarthrosis, and osteoporosis. Mortality rates decreased 2.0- to 2.1-fold with Thymalin, 1.6- to 1.8-fold with Epithalamin, 2.5-fold with combined Thymalin plus Epithalamin, and 4.1-fold with 6 years of annual combined therapy compared to control. No confidence intervals, p-values, or absolute event counts were reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This paper reports substantial reductions in multi-morbidity and all-cause mortality in elderly humans using peptide bioregulators over an extended multi-year follow-up period.
Limits
The abstract lacks crucial methodological details, including randomization procedures, blinding, baseline comparability between groups, exact dosage regimens, and standard statistical measures (such as confidence intervals or hazard ratios). The unusually large effect sizes require cautious interpretation and independent replication.
Cited by
- partial A 15-year study by Khavinson administering Epithalamin and Thymalin to nursing home patients showed significant reductions in cardiovascular, infectious, and cancer mortality.