Overview
| Editor’s Note: While peer-reviewed scientific studies on this dietary supplement are lacking, many practitioners and individuals report observational and anectodal benefits from its use. Use of this dietary supplement is on the rise. For this reason, NHIondemand has provided this monograph using the information that is currently available. As more science-based research becomes available, this monograph will be updated to include that material. |
A silk scroll recovered from a Han tomb in China dating over 2,000 years ago, describes the use of deer antler velvet for over 50 different diseases.
Deer antler velvet is the soft growing antler tissue, which is cast off every year and re-grown by several species of deer. This differs from the horns of cattle, which grow continually throughout the life of the animal. The growth rate of deer antler velvet is extremely rapid with a full set of hard antlers weighing 20 pounds or more being completed within 120 days. After 60 days, the antler cartilage begins its calcification process and the velvet covering is shed, leaving the mature, boney antler. Antler velvet is removed at the midpoint of the growing cycle, which is 55-60 days. At this time, the antlers are composed of cartilage, filled with nutrient rich live tissue, covered with fine velvet like hairs. The entire living antler tissue is considered antler velvet, not the hairy covering which is removed and discarded. Removal is humanely done with no harm to the deer. The antlers are then frozen and sent to a processing lab where they are dried, ground into a powder, and then encapsulated under strict pharmaceutical conditions.
Antler velvet contains substantial quantities of the following biologically active substances: amino acids, type II collagen, chondrocytes, chondroblasts, glucosamine, glycosaminoglycans, chondroitin sulfate A, lipids, growth hormone, and anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. Although there are many claims and anecdotal reports of benefits from deer antler velvet, only a few studies have been published in English language scientific journals. However, over 250 studies have been published in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian scientific journals.
In the early 1980s, from 200,000 to 300,000 spotted and red deer were farmed in China, yielding over 100 tons of dried deer antler velvet that pharmaceutical companies transformed into various antler velvet products. For many years, deer antler velvet has been the second most popular product in Traditional Chinese Medicine, second only to ginseng. Today, deer farming for the harvesting and processing of their antler velvet has also become a significant industry. Recent estimates of annual production include: New Zealand, 450 tons; China, 400 tons; Russia, 80 tons, and the United States and Canada both producing about 20 tons. (1)
Red deer and elk, both members of the Cervus species, are the favored animals for antler production. Different portions of the deer antler are used to prepare products for specific health conditions due to varying types and concentrations of nutrients that occur in different parts of the antler.
Korea is currently the largest consumer of deer antler velvet products, but other countries are beginning to hear and learn about the health benefits of these products, so world-wide demand is expected to grow.
Dosage Info
Dosage Range
Difficult to determine because dosages vary depending on age, type of product being used, and route of administration.
Most Common Dosage
Difficult to determine due to the multiple dosage forms available.
Dosage Forms
Tablets, capsules, powder packets, teas, extracts, injection, drops, and drinks.
Adult RDI
None established
Adult ODA
None established
RDA
- : None established
Active Forms
Various products (with differing active ingredients) produced from different parts of the antler. Also, pantocrin is a lipid extract that was first developed in Russia and is still available today in tablets or ampules. In the late 1960s, the Japanese developed an injectable form of pantocrin, which is known as rulondin. Rulondin is used primarily to treat male sexual disorders and is now also available in capsule and drink as well as injectable forms.
Absorption
There are a number of routes of administration for deer antler velvet products. Although rigorous studies have not been conducted, it is felt that most of the ingredients are fairly well absorbed when taken orally, including the larger molecular weight substances like chondroitin sulfate.
Toxicities & Precautions
General
There is a lack of studies and information on potential side effects and toxicity associated with the use of deer antler velvet. However, Korean physician Peter Yoon, who has experience using this product, reports that he has never seen a case of overdosing or any severe side effects from the use of deer antler velvet.
Side Effects
Mild gastric upset may occur if very large doses are ingested.
Functions in the Body
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
Anti-inflammatory activity from deer antler velvet may be partially due to the fact that the antler velvet contains linolenic acid, which is the precursor to the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. Antler velvet has also been found to contain the following glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which have anti-inflammatory activity: chondroitin, glucosamine; and keratin sulfates, hyaluronic acid, and proteoglycans.
Monocytes
Increased immune function may result from the ability of deer antler velvet to stimulate phagocytic activity. Antler velvet extracts also have increased monocyte counts in laboratory animals. Monocytes are a type of white blood cell critical to the immune function of the spleen, lymph, bone marrow, and connective tissue. Deer antler velvet also contains glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which are known to produce beneficial effects on the immune system.
Anabolic growth
Compounds in deer antler velvet reportedly stimulate anabolic growth properties and improved sexual activity and well being. This may be due to the amino acids that may stimulate the production of testosterone as well as IGF-I, which have been found to be high in these animals during the phase when the antlers are undergoing their rapid growth phase. (2)
Clinical Applications
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Studies indicate that type II collagen is therapeutically beneficial in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. (3) Deer antler velvet is rich in collagen, and the majority of it is of the type II variety. (4)
Enhancement Of Sports Performance
Research with pantocrin, which is a lipid extract from deer antler velvet, indicated that this product increased the working capacity of test animals. (5) In 1974, Russian scientists reported that athletes taking pantocrin were able to dramatically increase their performance on exercise cycle tests. (6) In a one-week placebo-controlled trial with weight lifters, deer antler velvet resulted in a slight increase in weight lifting ability along with improved muscle composition and better endurance and recovery time. (7)
Osteoarthritis
Deer antler velvet is rich in glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates (8) which have proven benefits in the treatment of osteoarthritis. (9) Although there are no published trials using deer antler velvet, substantial anecdotal and clinical observations attest to the benefits provided by these products in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Increases Female And Male Sexual Vitality
Throughout history, some of the most common uses of deer antler velvet products have been for the treatment of male impotence and female infertility. One theory being considered is that the amino acids in deer antler velvet may be able to stimulate the production and release of testosterone. An unpublished study with police recruits in Edmonton, Canada reported that a nine-week trial with elk antler resulted in significant increases in testosterone levels.
Symptoms and Causes of Deficiency
Deer antler velvet is not a nutrient for humans, and no deficiency condition exists.
Dietary Sources
Deer antler velvet does not occur in any foods. It can only be obtained from products that are made from the processing of harvested deer antler velvet.
References
- Kamen B, Kamen P. Velvet Antler. Novato, CA: Nutrition Encounter; 1999:12.
- View Abstract: Suttie JM, et al. Insulin like growth factor I: antler stimulating hormone? Endocrinology. 1986;116:846-848.
- View Abstract: Barnett ML, et al. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with oral type II collagen. Results of a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. Feb1998;41(2):290-7.
- View Abstract: Price JS, et al. Chondrogenesis in the regenerating antler tip in red deer: expression of collagen types IIA, IIB, and X demonstrated by in situ nucleic acid hybridization and immuno-cytochemistry. Developing Dynamics. 1996;205(3):332-347.
- Breckhman JT, et al. The biological activity of the antlers or deer and other deer species. Ivestio Sibrskogo Orderlemia Akalemi Nank SISR. Biological Series No. 1969;10(2):112-115.
- Yudin AM, Dubryakow YL. Academy of Sciences of USSSR, Far East Science Center. Vladivostock. 1974:25-27.
- Gerrard DF, et al. Clinical evaluation of New Zealand deer velvet antler on muscle strength and endurance in healthy male university athletes. Agsearch Invermay. New Zealand. 1989:31.
- Sunwoo HH, et al. Glycosaminoglycans from growing antlers of wapiti (Cervus elaphus). Canadian Journal of Animal Science. 1997;77:415-421.
- View Abstract: McAlindon TE, et al. Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis. JAMA. Mar2000;283(11):1469-75.