Parotid supplements come from the parotid glands of animals, usually cows or sheep. They fall under a category called glandular therapy. This approach rests on an old idea that eating an animal gland nourishes the matching human gland. Modern science does not back this idea.
People historically used these supplements to support salivary gland function and mouth moisture. No reliable clinical studies confirm those benefits. Some users take them alongside meals to mirror the body's natural timing for saliva production.
Safety concerns exist. Bovine-sourced products carry a risk of contamination from infectious agents like prions, including those that cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Manufacturing quality for glandular supplements also lacks consistent regulation.