Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4

The use of bovine spleen to treat pernicious anemia is primarily supported by scientific evidence, especially in historical medical practice. Pernicious anemia is caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, typically due to impaired absorption from a lack of intrinsic factor. In the 1920s, George Whipple, George Minot, and William Murphy discovered that feeding large quantities of raw liver (and to a lesser extent, spleen and other organ meats) to patients with pernicious anemia led to significant clinical improvement. This was later found to be due to the high content of vitamin B12 in these tissues, with the spleen being one of the richest sources after the liver. Before purified vitamin B12 became available in the late 1940s, desiccated animal spleen and liver extracts were the standard treatment for pernicious anemia. Patients would ingest these organ extracts to supply the missing vitamin. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1934 was awarded for this discovery, underscoring its importance in the history of medicine. However, with the advent of synthetic and purified vitamin B12, organ extracts such as bovine spleen are now obsolete in mainstream medicine for treating pernicious anemia, as pure B12 is more effective and consistent. Still, the historical use is well-supported by scientific evidence, and some alternative practitioners continue to recommend organ supplements, though this is less common and not considered best medical practice today.

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