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Miracle Growth Factor Research Papers
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The first topic I would like to talk to you about is Angiogenesis - that is the growth of blood vessels. As you all know deer velvet grows at up to 2cm per day. This means that all support tissues, including blood vessels must also grow at that rate. The question is how can they do this? Is it possible that deer velvet possesses unique factors which can allow blood vessels to grow that fast - and if so how can we exploit this knowledge?
One way of showing that a substance causes blood vessel growth is to test it on fertilized chicken's eggs. As the chicken embryo develops in the egg, blood vessels grow out and surround the egg white. It is possible to treat small areas with test substances; those that reduce blood vessel growth will leave a space, those that stimulate blood vessel growth will cause an increase in the density of blood vessels. On the left of the screen there is a control - you can see some blood vessels and on the right there is a treated egg. This egg was actually treated with purified growth factors, but deer velvet operates in exactly the same way. You can see the increase in the number of blood vessels."
A second way of showing that deer velvet causes blood vessels to grow is to take small pieces of adult deer arteries and put them in tissue culture. You can then add test substances and see if they cause outgrowths. In this figure we have taken a small slice of deer carotida artery and treated it with deer velvet extract. You can clearly see filamentous threads of new blood vessels growing out from the artery. This means that the deer velvet extract causes new blood vessels to grow.
Taking these results together it is clear that there are factors in deer velvet which promote blood vessel growth. There are likely to be therapeutic properties, for example in tissue repair and wound healing which are being actively pursued.
Deer velvet is unique in that it is the only mammalian organ to fully regenerate each year. It follows that there are likely to be unique factors which are responsible for this property.
We have developed a system to identify genes which are only expressed - that is, make proteins - in antler. This slide shows 3 genes which are clearly present in the antler and not in the deer body - the rather smudgy bands indicate the gene is working in antler and not body tissue. The need now is to find out what these genes are doing, and is the function novel and commercially exploitable. Function is the key for a patentable finding.
We can use a number of techniques to help us determine function. This figure shows, on the right, a piece of velvet under the microscope and on the left the same piece of velvet which has been treated to show that a gene of interest is present. The lighter areas, which are around blood vessels, indicate that this gene probably is involved with blood vessel growth. We know of other genes which are found only around new bone synthesis. Such information gives clues as to function. No single technique can answer all the questions and we need a set of techniques to be sure of novel function.
So we can conclude that there are novel factors in deer velvet, which we can find, which are not present elsewhere in the body. These factors could be markers for deer velvet in dietary supplements or be novel action ingredients for new supplements.
Deer velvet may contain a liver protecting factor, and indeed some recently released Canadian data points to this. We have looked at whether NZ deer velvet is effective by measuring the levels of liver enzymes which are raised when the liver is damaged. We also had the opportunity to look at the effect of deer velvet processing techniques on liver protecting factors.
The data shows that for 2 liver enzymes, AST and AL T, levels were lower - indication of less damage - in animals fed deer velvet compared to controls. The freeze dried deer velvet appeared slightly better than heat processed deer velvet in this respect. We can conclude that, in this model NZ deer velvet exerted a liver protection effect. So in terms of science achievement we have new results in 4 key areas.
Some further recent references
Zhang-H; Wanwimolruk-S; Coville-PF; Schofield-JC; Williams-G; Haines-SR;
Suttie-JM
Food-and-Chemical-Toxicology. 2000, 38: 11, 985-990; 13 ref.
Potential toxic effects of acute and subchronic dosage regimens of deer velvet powder have been assessed in rats following OECD guidelines. In the acute study, rats of both sexes were exposed to a single dose of 2 g/kg body weight. There was no mortality or other signs of toxicity during 14 days' observation. Furthermore, no significant alteration either in relative organ weights or their histology was discernible at terminal autopsy. In the 90-day subchronic study, deer velvet was administered in 1 g/kg daily doses by gavage to rats. A control group of rats received water only. There was no effect on body weight, food consumption, clinical signs, haematology and most parameters of blood chemistry including carbohydrate metabolism, liver and kidney function. No significant
differences were seen between the mean organ weights of the adrenal, kidney and brain in rats treated with deer velvet and control rats.
However, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the group mean relative liver weight (3.52±0.30 vs 3.81±0.26 g/100 g body weight) of deer velvet-treated and control male rats. The gross necropsy and pathological examination of rats treated with deer velvet did not reveal any
abnormalities in tissue morphology. Based on these results, it may be concluded that rats had no deer velvet treatment-related toxicological and histopathological abnormalities at the doses administered, despite the observed minor changes in liver weight.
Cells in regenerating deer antler cartilage provide a microenvironment that
supports osteoclast differentiation.
Faucheux-C; Nesbitt-SA; Horton-MA; Price-JS
Journal-of-Experimental-Biology. 2001, 204: 3, 443-455; Many ref.
Lysophosphatidylcholine derived from deer antler extract suppresses hyphal
transition in Candida albicans through MAP kinase pathway.
Min-Juyoung; Lee-YounJin; Kim-YoungAh; Park-HyunSook; Han-SoYeop; Jhon
-GilJa; Choi-Wonja; Min-J; Lee-YJ; Kim-YA; Park-HS; Han-SY; Jhon-GJ; Choi-W
Biochimica-et-Biophysica-Acta,-Molecular-and-Cell-Biology-of-Lipids. 2001,
1531: 1-2, 77-89; 35 ref.
A family of 2-lysophosphatidylcholines (lyso-PCs) was isolated from deer antler extract, guided exclusively by hyphal transition inhibitory activity in Candida albicans. Structural determination of the isolated lyso-PCs by spectroscopic methods, including infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR, 2D correlation spectroscopy NMR, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry, confirmed that the natural products were composed of at least 4 different
lyso-PCs varying in fatty acid moiety at the sn-1 position of the glycerol backbone.
The major lyso-PCs were confirmed as 1-stearoyl-, 1-oleoyl-, 1-linoleoyl- and 1-palmitoyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholines. Lyso -PC specifically suppressed the morphogenic transition from yeast to hyphae in C. albicans, without affecting the growth of either yeast or hyphae. Lyso-PC exerted hyphal transition that suppressed activity in the broad spectrum of the Candida species, such as C. albicans, C. krusei, C.
guilliermondii and C. parapsilosis. Northern analysis indicated that the uppression was mediated through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.
Concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I in adult male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus): associations with serum testosterone, morphometrics and age during and after the breeding season.
Ditchkoff-SS; Spicer-LJ; Masters-RE; Lochmiller-RL
Comparative-Biochemistry-and-Physiology.-A,-Molecular-and-Integrative
-Physiology. 2001, 129: 4, 887-895; 57 ref.
Our understanding of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in cervids has been limited mostly to its effects on antler development in red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), fallow deer (Dama dama), and pudu (Pudu puda). Although IGF-I has been found to play a critical role in reproductive function of other mammals, its role in reproduction of deer is unknown. The objectives of the present study were to determine if serum levels of IGF-I change during the breeding season, assess whether
age influences serum IGF-I, compare levels of IGF-I measured during and following the breeding season, and determine if IGF-I is associated with body and antler characteristics in free-ranging adult, male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We collected serum and morphometric data from hunter-harvested and captured white-tailed deer to investigate these objectives. Mean level of serum IGF-I during the breeding season was 63.6 ng/ml and was greatest in deer between 2.5 and 5.5 years old (57.4-79.9 ng/ml). Levels of serum IGF-I decreased by approximately 40% as the breeding season progressed, but levels were less in deer following the breeding season (34.6 ng/ml). Both body and antler size were associated positively with IGF-I when controlling for age. Serum testosterone was also associated positively with IGF-I. Levels of serum testosterone during the breeding season generally increased with age from 4.82 (1.5 years old) to 18.79 ng/dl (5.5 years old), but decreased thereafter. These data suggest that IGF-I may be an important hormone in breeding, male white-tailed deer.
Potential uses of velvet antler as nutraceuticals, functional and medical
foods in the West.
Sunwoo-HH; Sim-JS
Journal-of-Nutraceuticals,-Functional-and-Medical-Foods. 2000, 2: 3, 5-23;
38 ref.
Velvet antlers have been used as Oriental medicine for many centuries.Traditional medical reports and clinical observations from the Eastern world convincingly show that velvet antler is biologically active. However, little information is available on chemical and biological efficacy of antler products in the West due to the incomplete understanding of the uses and pharmacological properties of velvet antlers. To make antler products acceptable as nutraceuticals and functional foods in the West, antler research has been conducted to isolate and characterize the chemical and biological properties of velvet antlers. The chemical composition of antler was determined in four
sections (tip, upper, middle, and base). Contents of dry matter, collagen, ash, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium increased (P<0.05), and those of protein and lipid decreased (P<0.05) downward from the tip to the base.
The concentrations of uronic acid, sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG), and sialic acid decreased (P<0.05) downward. Amino acid and fatty acid contents, expressed as percentage of total protein and lipid, respectively, also varied (P<0.05) among sections. The yield of chondroitin sulfate (CS) was approximately six fold greater in the cartilaginous (tip and upper) sections than in the bony (middle and base) sections. In addition to CS, the antler sections contained small amounts of keratan sulfate (KS), hyaluronic acid, and dermatan sulfate. Two proteoglycans associated with GAGs were also extracted from the cartilaginous section; a large aggregated proteoglycan with CS and KS and small molecules of decorin. Water soluble extracts rich in GAG stimulated
the growth of bovine fibroblast in culture. Feeding antler diet for 54 days showed a significant effect on the growth rate of immunized rats. Diet antler powder resulted in a significant increase of HDL-C/LDL-C ratio (P<0.05). The result appears to reflect the involvement of unknown factor(s) derived from the antler diet suggesting the importance for the prevention of the risk of coronary heart disease. Haematocrit value and iron content in plasma also significantly increased by feeding antler powder (P<0.05). The data suggest that there are significant unknown factor(s) in the antler powder that enhances the biological performance of growing rats.
Effects of insulin-like growth factor 1 and testosterone on the
proliferation of antlerogenic cells in vitro.
Li-ChunYi; Littlejohn-RP; Suttie-JM; Li-CY
Journal-of-Experimental-Zoology. 1999, 284: 1, 82-90; 27 ref.
The aim of this study was to use cell culture techniques to investigate how testosterone and IGF1 affects the proliferation of antlerogenic cells from the four ossification stages of pedicle/antler in vitro. The results showed that in serum-free medium IGF1 stimulated the proliferation of antlerogenic cells from all four ossification stages (intramembraneous
(IMO), transistional (OPC), pedicle endrochondral (pECO) and antlerenfochondral (aECO)) in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, testosterone alone did not show any mitogenic effects on these antlerogenic cells.
However, in the presence of IGF1, testosterone increased proliferation of the antlerogenic cells from the IMO and the OPC stages (pedicle tissue), and reduced proliferation of the antlerogenic cells from transformation point (TP) and aECO stages (antler tissue). Therefore, the results from the present in vitro study support the in vivo findings that androgen hormones stimulate pedicle formation but inhibit antler growth. The change
in the mitogenic effects of testosterone on antlerogenic cells from positive to negative occurs approximately at the change in ossification type from OPC to pECO. Therefore, these results reinforce the hypothesis that the transformation from a pedicle to an antler takes place at the time when the ossification type changes from OPC to pECO rather than at the time when the pedicle grows to its full species-specific height.
Seasonal changes of testis volume, scrotal circumference and serum
testosterone concentrations in male sika deer (Cervus nippon).
Kameyama-Y; Takahashi-R; Ito-M; Maru-R; Ishijima-Y
Animal-Science-Journal. 2000, 71: 2, 137-142; 23 ref.
Annual changes in the concentration of serum testosterone (T) in sika deer stags were examined. The relationships between T concentration and the size of testis, and between T concentration and the antler cycle were also evaluated. T concentration increased between July and September, then decreased between October and November. The highest T concentration was noted in September or October. During the period from November to the following July, T concentration remained low. The volume of the testis and scrotal circumference showed changes similar to those in the T concentration. The testis volume showed clearer seasonal changes than those of the scrotal circumference. Shedding of velvets was observed during the period of high T concentrations. It is concluded that there are distinct annual changes in the blood T concentration in sika deer stags, which are related to the annual changes in testis volumes, scrotal circumferences and antlers.
Antinarcotic effects of the velvet antler water extract on morphine in mice.
Kim-HackSeang; Lim-HwaKyung; Park-WooKyu; Kim-HS; Lim-HK; Park-WK
Journal-of-Ethnopharmacology. 1999, 66: 1, 41-49; 35 ref.
The present study was undertaken to investigate the antinarcotic effects of velvet antler water extract (VAWE) from Cervus elaphus on morphine in mice. Morphine-induced analgesic action was measured by the tail-flick method. Morphine-induced hyperactivity and reverse tolerance were evidenced by measuring the enhanced ambulatory activity using a tilting -type ambulometer. Dopamine (DA) receptor supersensitivity in mice
displaying morphine-induced reverse tolerance was evidenced by the enhanced response in ambulatory activity to the DA agonist, apomorphine. The repeated administration of VAWE significantly inhibited the development of morphine-induced analgesic tolerance, physical dependence,
reverse tolerance and postsynaptic DA receptor supersensitivity. But a single administration of VAWE neither antagonized morphine-induced analgesia nor inhibited morphine-induced hyperactivity. From the above results, it is presumed that VAWE may be useful for prevention and therapy of the adverse actions of morphine caused by the repeated administration of morphine.
Effect of water-soluble extract from antler of wapiti (Cervus elaphus) on
the growth of fibroblasts.
Sunwoo-HH; Nakano-T; Sim-JS
Canadian-Journal-of-Animal-Science. 1997, 77: 2, 343-345; 7 ref.
Water-soluble extracts were prepared from the tip sections of antlers of 4 -year-old wapiti stags, and the effect of the extract on the growth of bovine skin fibroblasts in culture was examined. The results showed the presence of growth promoting factor(s) in the antler extract. The stimulation of cell growth was found to be dose-dependent (P<0.05).
Glycosaminoglycans from growing antlers of wapiti (Cervus elaphus).
Sunwoo-HH; Sim-LYM; Nakano-T; Hudson-RJ; Sim-JS
Canadian-Journal-of-Animal-Science. 1997, 77: 4, 715-721; 33 ref.
The emerging wapiti industry in North America is based largely on markets for velvet antlers which are used in oriental medicine. Despite the economic opportunity, enthusiasm has been dampened by incomplete understanding of the chemical and pharmacological properties of velvet antler. This study characterizes polysaccharide constituents of glycosaminoglycans in growing antler of wapiti (Cervus elaphus).
Glycosaminoglycans were isolated from four sections (tip, upper, middle and base) of growing antlers, and were studied using cellulose acetate electrophoresis, gel electrophoresis, enzymic digestion and gel chromatography. The tip and upper sections of the antler which are rich in cartilaginous tissues contained chondroitin sulfate as a major
glycosaminoglycan with small amounts of hyaluronic acid. In the middle and base sections containing bone and bone marrow, chondroitin sulfate was also a major glycosaminoglycan with small amounts of hyaluronic acid and chondroitinase-ACI resistant materials. More than half of chondroitin sulfate from the middle and base sections had larger molecular size than did the chondroitin sulfates from the tip and upper sections.
Velvet demonstrates androgenic and gonadotrophic effects, meaning that it helps to regulate the activity of the sex organs. The sex hormones estrone, testosterone and a substance similar to progesterone have been identified at low levels and together with the high levels of amino acids present in higher graded velvet may help to explain the belief throughout the Orient that consuming velvet invigorates the sexual energy.
Blood Building and the Reduction of Blood Pressure
Antler velvet has long been recognized as being effective for increasing both the volume and the circulation of blood through the body. As a specific remedy in traditional medicine for anaemia it has been shown in experiments to have a potent erythropoetic effect, meaning that it stimulates the formation of red blood cells.
Velvet not only builds blood but research has shown that it also has a strong influence on blood pressure - one of its major properties is the lowering of blood pressure, and since it is so easily demonstrated is widely used as a test for its biological activity. Velvet has also been shown to restore blood pressure to normal in both hypo- and hyper-tensive patients.
Anti-stress and Anti-aging Effects
Experimental research has demonstrated that velvet preparations can protect the body from stress such as heat, cold and electric shock. Russian studies report that patients treated with velvet extract prior to surgery had significantly lower levels of stress indicators in the blood. According to another Russian researcher, Dr Korobkov, velvet extract acts "by accelerating the body's natural restorative processes and by increasing the body's resistance to unfavorable external influence."
Recent Chinese research suggests that velvet preparations showed anti-aging effects by reducing signs of senility, very possibly due to its hormonal effects.
Accelerated Healing Effects in Injuries and Wounds
One of the outstanding properties of antler velvet is its ability to alleviate the pain of inflammation, such as joint pain, swelling and tissue injury. In other studies from Japan, velvet extract has been shown to speed up the healing of damaged nerve tissue and also aids in the recovery of patients suffering from cervical and whiplash injuries.
It has been suggested that the high concentrations of hormone like substances in deer velvet are responsible for the rapid tissue repair after injury, or even the cartilaginous concentration of the antler itself. Over 35 years ago Dr john F. Prudden and other researchers discovered such elements in cartilage as N-Acetyl-Glucosamine, glycosaminoglycans and synoviocytes that have all been associated with accelerated wound healing. These elements may well be one of the primary reasons why arthritics are helped so much by such substances as shark cartilage and deer velvet.
Anti-Cancer and AIDS research
While there is no evidence to date showing that velvet actually cures cancer, Russian experiments have shown it to increase the survival rate, and in some instances, to inhibit the spread of tumor cells. Present clinical trials run by AgResearch in Korea are showing positive results, with the velvet extract increasing the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs while at the same time reducing their side effects.
As an immune enhancer for patients with HIV, velvet is also undergoing studies at the Institute for Traditional Medicine in California.
To list all of the therapeutic claims for this precious substance of the deer is far beyond the scope of this article. But as the potency of velvet, "the greatest source of yang energy" and its attributes become better known, many Westerners will surely become converts to this wonderfully safe and natural remedy.
Researchers have now determined that one of the main components of antler extract is IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) which is highly concentrated during rapid growth of antler. This same IGF-1 is found in humans and is necessary for growth and development. IGF-1 influences tissue and organ structure in both deer and humans.
Making IGF-1 from antler extract available to healthcare professionals and consumers will provide a new dimension of health care. IGF-1 antler extract can be used as a nutritional or neutraceutical supplement to replace IGF-1 deficiencies. The insulin-like growth factors (IGF's) have become the focus of intense research for the past decade. The IGF family consists of insulin, IGF-1 and IGF-2 which participate in the growth and function of most organs in the body. Because of the wide range of their biological effects and their potential to support so many body systems, IGF research is expected to continue at an accelerated pace, with advances in antler science supplying the necessary fuel.
Thanks to years of research and experience, it appears that antler extracts work optimally by using the product for 2 to 3 weeks straight and then taking 1 week off and then resuming for 2 to 3 week use again. This cycle can be used indefinitely for both endurance and strength athletes.
IGF-1 is a polypeptide compound produced from HGH (Human Growth Hormone). The vast majority of strength increasing, muscle increasing, and anti-aging effects of HGH (Human Growth Hormone) are directly attributable to it's conversion by the liver and other tissues into Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGF-1). IGF-1 has been shown to increase the transport of amino acids into muscle cells throughout the body, thus regenerating these tissues after exercise. According to European researchers, IGF-1 initiates the transport of nucleic acids into the nucleus of the cell where DNA resides. It provides the raw material needed to repair damage to the DNA and initiates cell division.
In 1998, researchers at New Zealand's AgResearch Invermay (a state-owned agricultural research facility) and the University of Otago completed phase I of a clinical trial on New Zealand deer antler velvet's ability to improve athletic performance. The 10-week double-blind study was conducted under the medical supervision of sports physician Dr. David Gerrard at the university. Although the results of the first test were inconclusive, they were encouraged enough to conduct a phase II of trials. The second studies results which were just released in March of 2001 built on the first trial's scientifically rigorous testing procedure using a larger sample population receiving a daily dosage of velvet from 850-1,200 mg [IGF-1+ Deer Antler Velvet Spray = approximately 300 mg Deer Antler Velvet per spray (about 93 sprays per bottle)]. Researchers examined velvet's effect on building endurance and delaying fatigue, as well as its influence on the repair of damaged muscle tissue. "In this study, athletes who took dietary New Zealand deer antler velvet for two weeks showed significantly reduced elevation of creatine kinase levels in their bloodstream and recovered from muscle soreness 24 hours earlier than subjects on placebo,". Creatine kinase, a substance found in the bloodstream, was used as an indicator of muscle-tissue damage in the study.
As important as HGH is, it does not last long in our bloodstream. In just a few short minutes our liver absorbs HGH and converts it into growth factors. IGF-1 is the most important growth factor that is produced. You can think of HGH as the hormone that gets the ball rolling, but IGF-1 does most of the work.
Increased Insulin-Like-Growth Factor (IGF-1) levels are used as an indicator of human growth hormone levels and can be measured. IGF-1 secretion is much more steady than that of growth hormone.
IGF-1 is a natural anabolic growth factor molecule and is a protein that promotes tissue growth, organ health, and healthy blood sugar levels. As we age and less Growth Hormone is released from the pituitary gland, there is a corresponding drop in IGF-1 levels, yet the bodies demand for IGF-1 does not decrease. As IGF-1 levels decline, the vitality and physical exuberance of youth recedes, further contributing to the process and experience of aging.
So a majority of the growth promoting effects of growth hormone is actually due to IGF-1 acting on its target cells. The major role of growth hormone in stimulating body growth is to stimulate the liver and other tissues to secrete IGF-1.
Growth factors are small proteins that regulate cell growth and specialization and control the metabolic processes.
Growth factors enable cells in the immune, nervous and hormonal systems to communicate and coordinate their growth and cell functioning and they support cell regeneration.
This communication regulates the aging and growth of cells, telling the cell when to live or die. Cell reproduction slows down as we age, and unless cells are prompted by growth hormones, they go into a resting phase.
IGF-1 regulates cell growth by moving cells from a resting phase to the active phase of the cell cycle and it increases the cell's ability to complete DNA synthesis. IGF-1 also acts with the nervous system and is critical for the growth and development of nerve cells playing an active role at the neuromuscular junction, where interaction between nerve and muscle cells occurs.
IGF-1 References
Growth Hormones and IGF-1 References:
Authors developed blood spot assays for IGF-1 and IGFBP- 3 and compared them to conventional methodologies. They found that dried blood spot showed a greater than 1 month stability at -20C, 4C and RT and retained more than 65% of the immunoreactivity after approximately 1 month at 37C. "We conclude that blood collected on filter paper is ideal for IGF-I and IGFBP-3 analysis and may find applications in pediatric and large scale infant screening programs."
Note: Original Document has been Notarized
| PRODUCT MANUFACTURE & SPECIFICATION REPORT | |
| PRODUCT NAME:Miracle Growth Factors Plus | PRODUCT CODE: 1801400205 |
| PRODUCT TYPE: Sublingual Oral Spray | PRODUCT SIZE: 1 oz Glass Bottle |
| BATCH NO: 10485 | H.T.S.CODE: 2106.10 |
| MANUFACTURING DATE: 10 April 2006 | SHELF LIFE: 2 years from MGF date |
|
APPEARANCE: Non-Viscous Slate Color Liquid |
FLAVOUR: Lemon / Lime |
| STORAGE: Store in cool place Recommend 15 - 25 Deg C | INTENDED USE: Dietary Supplement Food preparation. |
| DOSE DELIVERY: 0.10 MLS / spray | CERTIFICATION: GCI USA |
| ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Growth factor Matrix. Q.A. MARKER: Insulin Growth factor 1 ( IGF 1 ). EXCIPIENT: Xylitol. All ingredients are quantified and standardized at time of input | |
| Product Name: Miracle Growth Factors (MGF)® Product Code: 18014 00205 |
Date: 02/04/05 Prepared By: Cliff Bellaney
Unit Product Weight: 1 ounce
| Component | Results | Unit |
| Deionized Water % Protein % DM Fat % DM Ash Nitrogen Phosphorous Sulphur Magnesium Calcium Zinc Copper Iron Selenium Carbohydrates, Total Fat, Total Protein, Crude Energy Potassium Sodium Cobalt IGF-1 | 85.80 41.23 2.70 0.20 13.00 <100.00 0.80 8.40 59.00 0.65 0.25 7.50 <0.10 14.70 0.10 2.40 295.40 500.00 1200.00 <0.10 500.20 | g/100g % % g/100g mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg g/100g g/100g g/100g kj/100g mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg ng/ml |
A University of Saskatchewan professor of physiology has found scientific evidence that elk velvet antler (EVA) may protect the liver from disease. Dr. Susan Hemmings, who has established a research program committed to assessing the impact of nutraceuticals on the liver, is a professor in the Department of Physiology at the College of Medicine. Her interest in and work with elk velvet antler was prompted by a curiosity that extends to all aspects of her life.
"Three years ago, I was at a mini trade show in our community, and stopped at a booth where elk velvet antler was being promoted," she explains. "First, they corrected my misunderstanding of the velvet antler. I thought it was the velvet on the outside of the elk antler, but I learned it is the inner core of the antler harvested during the velvet stage. I was interested 100%."
The composition of the antler core intrigued her. At the velvet stage, it has not ossified into bone, but is a gelatinous material that is highly vascular and full of nutrients, including growth factors. She could visualize it as an effective nutraceutical and wanted to test it on the liver.
The liver is essential to life and performs a myriad of functions. It is involved in the processing of the food we eat and keeping the levels of nutrients constant in the body. It produces proteins essential for clotting of the blood, immunoglobulins needed for immunity. It protects the body by selectively filtering the blood removing harmful viruses, bacteria and foreign materials. It is critically involved in detoxification and removal of harmful chemicals that enter the body. But the liver is sensitive to being damaged and damage is involved in the development of liver disease.
There are over 100 different forms of liver disease. Presently liver disease affects one in 12 Canadians and is the fourth leading cause of death, according to the Canadian Liver Foundation. It is increasing and there are no effective treatments.
"The only real treatment we have is transplantation. While we are learning a great deal about this, and have made many strides, there will never be enough livers to go around," Hemmings said.
Because the liver is so easily damaged, Hemmings' first concern was the toxicity of elk velvet antler. Her research, however, detected no signs of any negative effects on the growth, behavior or health of the animals and no evidence of any toxic effect on the liver. This extends other studies done by such researchers as Dr. Jeong Sim, a scientist at the University of Alberta. Her studies were carried out in adults as well as animals that has consumed velvet antler from before birth until adulthood. Further, the addressed the specific question of liver toxicity. She said lack of toxicity was an important first step before antler would be accepted as a medicine.
When the liver is in good health, one particular enzyme, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, or GGT, is found in lower amounts in the liver. But the enzyme's levels are elevated in liver disease.
"We found that the rats that were fed with antler velvet in their rat chow had a decrease in GGT (compared with control group rats). We felt that the antler velvet was providing some protection for the liver," she said.
Next, Hemmings treated rats with the powerful liver damaging chemical carbon tetrachloride to induce a moderate level of liver damage. They were tested for another enzyme, transaminase. This enzyme is present inside the healthy liver cell. It is released from the liver into the blood-stream if serious liver damage has occurred. The animals that had been fed the antler velvet showed a 300% drop in transaminase levels compared to the control group.
"We now know the antler is having a protective effect. We need to know more. I need to study this further," she said. For example, further research is needed to determine whether elk velvet antler will facilitate healing of damaged livers as well as protecting them from disease. There is some other research that suggests EVA promotes tissue healing. Hemmings is particularly interested in assessing the benefits of EVA in various liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Hemmings' initial research was self-funded. Recently she has received a $10,000 (USD) grant from the Elk Research Council of the North American Elk Breeders Association.
Dr. Hemmings would ideally like to have $80,000 (USD) over the next two years to complete a comprehensive series of studies on elk velvet. She has applied for government funding to support her research program. However, success with governments is predicated on evidence of industry's strong financial support for her research.
One of the many benefits that Hemmings sees from being able to complete additional research studies is to legitimize EVA as a nutraceutical and potential medicine. She said that her colleagues and traditional funding foundations currently view elk velvet as akin to "snake oil." Positive results from her work will attract additional resources and funding for more research into the health benefits of this product.
I believe this type of research is essential for the elk industry to develop profitable markets for EVA in North America. Dr. Hemmings is committed to doing her part, so let's do ours.
Dr. Susan Hemmings,
Professor Department of Physiology
College of Medicine
University of Saskatchewan