Anabolic or Growth Stimulating
Properties of Deer Velvet

For centuries children in Korea have been given velvet antler to promote their healthy growth and development, both physically and mentally. In a similar capacity, velvet has also been used as a strengthening tonic for invalids, and for patients suffering from chronic wasting diseases such as tuberculosis, AIDS, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The nutrient rich, fast growing cartilage of deer antler velvet contains many growth factors that are under close investigation at AgResearch. During preliminary ‘in vitro’ studies, velvet extracts were found to not only stimulate cell growth, but also demonstrated anti-tumour and anti-viral properties.

During their investigations, the Invermay team measured a natural hormone called "insulin-like growth factor-1" or "IGF-1" among the natural growth hormones and their precursors found in velvet. High levels of this hormone were found in deer blood during the growth of the antlers, and "receptors to IGF-1" were found in the antler itself. Dr Suttie’s group discovered that IGF-1 and a related hormone IGF-2, promoted growth in antler cells growing in the laboratory and more recent discoveries have shown that these antler cells are capable of producing IGF-2 themselves.

In the human body growth hormone is the most abundant hormone produced by the pituitary gland, and in the liver it triggers the release of IGF-1, also called somatomedin C. It is used by scientists as a measure for the level of growth hormone present in the body as it elicits most of the effects associated with growth hormone.

When we are young the concentration of human growth hormone is relatively high which promotes good musculature and low body fat. However after adolescence and during our early twenties, growth hormone levels decline along with IGF-1 and many studies have shown a direct correspondence between aging and a lack of growth hormone. As a natural source of IGF-1 it is claimed that the anabolic effect of deer velvet can help to keep the body lean by burning fat and building muscle tissue—of great interest to body builders, athletes, weight trainers, or any person wanting to keep in good shape.

The anabolic, or growth promoting effects of velvet antler have been well documented, and separate studies using mice, tadpoles, chickens, young rabbits and rats have all shown stimulated growth and increased body weight.

In a study carried out by AgResearch using New Zealand velvet antler extract, healthy rats fed diets supplemented with medium and high doses of velvet extract grew markedly more than the control group, and their liver weight was also significantly heavier.28 The rats fed with the highest level of extract grew 12 percent heavier than the control group during the first three weeks of the study.

Research by Dr Jeong Sim and Dr Hoon Sunwoo at the University of Alberta has also demonstrated velvet’s potent growth-promoting effect, stimulating bone development in rats by increasing femur length, thickness and mineral content.

Reprinted with permission from:
Velvet Antler - Nature's Superior Tonic by Alison Davidson,
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