Supplementation with bovine thymus extract improves survival, motility and stress resistance in C. elegans

Nutritional support for healthy aging is an active field of research. Bovine organ extracts, and glandular therapy in general, became popular in the 1900s, but their effect on healthy aging is unexplored, and their mechanisms of action are unclear. Here, we evaluated three bovine thymus materials with regards to their effect on healthy aging in C. elegans: two thymus extracts, a nuclear fraction (TNF) and a cytosolic fraction, and desiccated bovine thymus. All three materials extended C. elegans mid-life survival and improved mid-life motility. RNA sequencing revealed that TNF treatment elicited noticeable changes in the expression of genes related to the extracellular matrix and those necessary for defense responses. This was accompanied by protection from oxidative stress (paraquat) and pathogen (Pseudomonas aeruginosa)-induced early death and leaky gut. This study validates the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with bovine thymus extract can support healthy aging and protect C. elegans from environmental stressors.