The Science of IGF-1 & Deer Antler Velvet Spray

New Zealand has a temperate climate, with a minimal amount of insects that are capable of carrying disease. Furthermore, since the time livestock was introduced to the country, the government of New Zealand has taken some steps to control what crosses the border to prevent the introduction of new diseases. These facts result in New Zealand’s livestock being free of many of the diseases that traditionally limit agricultural production and trade in other countries.

An average New Zealand deer farm can be expected to have high-quality soil, moderate rainfall, and a mild climate. New Zealand’s deer farmers are often well-informed about the ins and outs of deer farming. These two aspects combined create an environment that promotes a high standard of deer farming, and in turn, contributes to the consistently high quality of deer products produced in the country.

Farming of red deer for deer antler velvet is a well-established industry in the country of New Zealand. These New Zealand deer farms have specially designed handling facilities and yards to ensure efficient and safe handling of the deer and to provide for the welfare needs of the animals.

When it comes to the harvesting of deer velvet, it’s typically removed when there is maximum soft tissue and minimal calcification, or hardening of the bony center of the antlers. For standard red deer, this occurs within 55 to 60 days after antler growth begins. As for larger species of deer, the harvesting period occurs slightly later than that. When deer antlers are harvested, they’re carefully cut off using a saw just above the “junctions” of the antlers. When they’re removed, a short portion of the antlers is left in their place. The antlers will then harden naturally, and cast what's known as a “button” the following spring when the antlers begin to regrow naturally.

In New Zealand, where a great majority of deer antler velvet is harvested, the process can only be performed under meticulous regulations. New Zealand requires that a strict process be followed and that the velvet is harvested by trained professionals using approved procedures to ensure the well-being of the deer. These trained professionals must be veterinarians or specially trained and registered farmers. Furthermore, deer antler velvet can only be harvested legally by the owner of said deer farm. It’s important to note that any pain that may be caused by the deer antler velvet harvesting process is offset through the use of local or general anesthesia. It goes without saying that in the wild, deer would not receive any sort of relief from the perceived pain that comes with the velvet shedding process.

The regulations surrounding the harvesting of deer antler velvet in New Zealand are overseen by several government agencies, like the New Zealand Veterinary Association, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), and the more specific National Velveting Standards Body (NVSB).

One final thing to note regarding the welfare of farmed deer in New Zealand is that these deer usually have a relatively long life, as they can be farmed for 10 years or more. Furthermore, the stringent regulations on deer farming require the deer to live in extensive pastoral systems. Farmed deer often live a life with little to no interventions apart from routine health procedures. Given these facts, farmed deer in New Zealand often have a rather high quality of life. In most cases, velvet removal benefits the deer, as it reduces the risk of injury that regularly occurs from fights during the mating season.

Even in modern times, many Asian countries stand by the idea that deer antler velvet can be used to support the growth of children, as well as a weight-gaining tonic for the elderly, disabled, or even training athletes. The use of deer antler velvet for children is particularly popular in Korea, where they believe that, along with supporting growth and development, deer antler velvet can also be used to enhance the immune system and support mental ability.

Scientific studies have confirmed that deer antler velvet has the potential to enhance the growth of young laboratory animals. During studies in 1938, 1975, 1976, and 1989, different research was performed in which deer antler velvet was distributed to rabbits, mice, and chickens. While some of these studies showed different results, I.E, one study finding that deer antler velvet was more effective on adult animals, each of the studies pointed to the idea that deer antler velvet can indeed help the growth of mammals.

Since the 1960s and 1970s, many similar studies have been conducted on both small animals and humans in Russia, showing results that also indicate an increase in growth and weight gain. Since these studies have been conducted, the Russian medical system has made heavy use of deer antler velvet supplements, as well as the Russian space research program, national sports teams, and the Russian military.

To this day, there are still studies being performed on how deer antler velvet can support muscle growth and weight gain. As the information currently available shows deer antler velvet’s potential for growth and weight gain, these studies mostly focus on what in deer antler velvet supports these factors. Along with the current research, the number of deer antler velvet users who stand by its effectiveness is a remarkable testament to the accuracy of the various studies performed throughout the years.

Deer antler velvet is commonly used in Korea at the beginning of and during winter due to the belief that it helps improve the functionality of the immune system. Furthermore, in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Materia Medica, it’s stated that deer antler velvet can increase the number of red and white blood cells in the body. Recent research has supported the idea that there very well may be an improvement in the function of the immune system from taking deer antler velvet. How effective deer antler velvet is for boosting the immune system of humans is something that’s still being researched, though the signs look hopeful based on animal testing.

It is believed that deer antler velvet may be able to support the human immune system through its white blood cells, as well as macrophages, which are other immune system-supporting cells that can be found in deer antler velvet. There are some different molecules in deer antler velvet, like lipids, polypeptides, and proteoglycans, that have been identified as affecting the immune system. These cells and molecules, paired with many different mechanisms like metabolism, may be the key to how deer antler velvet affects the immune system. As research is still being performed, the precise nature of these effects has yet to be fully understood.

As with many other perceived health benefits of deer antler velvet, the supplement’s ability to improve joint function was first observed by the Chinese. More recently, Western countries have started to look at deer antler velvet as a way to alleviate symptoms of arthritis. Recent studies have been performed on deer antler velvet as a way to improve joint function, and they’ve shown promising results.

Currently, exactly why deer antler velvet may support joint function is not known. But, deer antler velvet has been observed to have immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties, which may contribute to improved joint function. Additionally, deer antler velvet contains chondroitin sulfate, which is a clinically effective treatment for arthritis. The amount of chondroitin sulfate found in deer antler velvet is not considered enough to be the primary reason for its ability to improve joint function, though.

Current information shows that deer antler velvet can be used to improve joint function and treat arthritis. As more studies are performed, exactly how deer antler velvet improves joint function will be better understood. Discovering what active ingredients are in deer antler velvet and how they affect the body is the primary study currently being done.

Historically, deer antler velvet has also been valued for its bone-strengthening properties by the Chinese and Koreans. Osteoporosis is a metabolic disorder that causes the bones to lose density and become weaker, which can lead to an increased risk of bone fractures. Osteoporosis affects 10 million women per year in the United States, and while treatments exist, they often have a wide array of uncomfortable side effects. It's clear to see why so many people are looking to deer antler velvet as a way to increase bone density and strength, as well as a treatment for osteoporosis.

Deer antler velvet may have an effect on osteoporosis, or bone health in general, by directly or indirectly playing a role in the growth of two bone cells, osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Research shows that deer antler velvet does have a positive effect on these bone cells. During these research studies, lab animals like rats and mice with bone fractures were given deer antler velvet. The test subjects that were given deer antler velvet saw a faster rate of healing when compared to the control rats that were not given deer antler velvet. Some of the rats who were given deer antler velvet saw healing rates of up to 75% higher than those that were not given the supplement.

While there has not been enough research performed on human bone health when taking deer antler velvet to conclude, current studies show great potential for deer antler velvet as a way to improve the strength and density of bones.

Russian, Chinese, and Korean literature cite deer antler velvet as being useful for anti-fatigue, as well as a treatment for general weakness. Most commonly, clinical fatigue and weakness are the results of anemia. Anemia occurs when the body doesn’t have enough healthy blood cells. This leads to reduced oxygen flow to the organs, which causes several symptoms in humans. There are many specific causes of anemia, like iron deficiency or chronic blood loss. As with any diagnosis, proper treatment should be discussed with your doctor. But whatever the causes of anemia are, haematinics like vitamin B complex, iron, and even deer antler velvet may play a role in improving blood health and anemia recovery.

Current research shows that deer antler velvet may have an erythropoietin-type substance within it. Erythropoietin-type substances are medications that stimulate the bone marrow to make additional blood cells. Similar to the other benefits of deer antler velvet, the presence of an erythropoietin-type substance within the supplement has yet to be fully proven.

In a study done in 1979, several rabbits were used as test subjects to see how deer antler velvet affects anemia. During this study, the test subjects were induced to have anemia. While all of the test subjects recovered by the end of the study, test subjects treated with deer antler velvet showed improved recovery when compared to controls who did not receive deer antler velvet. While studies are still being conducted on deer antler velvet’s effect on blood health, current information points to some kind of correlation between the two.

The effects of deer antler velvet to help recover after a tissue injury are one of the most studied areas of deer antler velvet. As with many of the other benefits of deer antler velvet, Traditional Chinese Medicine highly touts the supplement as a way to improve tissue recovery after an injury. They believe that deer antler velvet can be used to help an injured person return to a normal lifestyle or the workforce. That being said, current research does not point to anything in deer antler velvet that specifically helps the body recover. As with many other benefits of deer antler velvet, its ability to do things like support healthy joint function and blood health is likely the culprit for increased recovery after injury when taking the supplement.

Current studies support the idea that the supplement’s other, more proven benefits can assist in other aspects of recovery after injury.

People who like to play sports, lift, or generally train their bodies are always looking for ways to improve physical performance. The idea of sports nutrition has become more popular due to athletes needing to combine training, diet, and injury recovery response to achieve the best athletic performance possible. Increased athletic performance is one of the most popular perceived health benefits of deer antler velvet. Across the countries where the supplement is commonly used, like Russia, China, and Korea, the athletic performance-increasing benefits of deer antler velvet is common knowledge. In more recent years, Western countries have begun to look to deer antler velvet as a training and recovery aid.

But exactly how is deer antler velvet increasing athletic performance? Athletic performance in and of itself is a complicated subject. There are countless ways that a person’s athletic performance can be enhanced, so it isn’t surprising that many of deer antler velvet’s benefits can contribute to this. For example, improving the body’s oxygen-carrying capacity would likely lead to increased athletic performance. Another example would be increased recovery so that the athlete can get back to their training or competition as soon as possible. These are broad examples of the benefits that deer antler velvet provides, but they both have the potential to increase athletic performance.

Given the complex nature of athletic performance, deer antler velvet’s ability to improve it is influenced by some factors. Things like the exact type of deer antler velvet, dosage, and metabolism of the person taking it will all contribute to how the supplement affects athletic performance. Not all athletes will see performance benefits, while others may see that deer antler velvet can be of assistance for improved athletic performance.

Both human and animal studies have been conducted regarding the athletic performance-increasing ability of deer antler velvet. As athletic performance is a complex thing to track, these studies are filled with technical data, mostly concerned with the idea of “work rate”. In these studies, “work rate” is loosely defined as the amount of exercise a test subject can perform within a given period. While many of these studies showed variations in data, they all point to the idea of deer antler velvet increasing athletic performance through better “work rates”, when compared to test subjects who did not receive the supplement. The majority of the studies drew the same conclusions - deer antler velvet can boost performance through its other health benefits, like increased oxygen flow throughout the blood and improved joint function.

Aging is an inevitable part of the life cycle. Humans through years of research and study have searched for ways to defer or slow down the aging process. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, deer antler velvet has historically been used as a tonic for aged people in the belief that the supplement has anti-aging properties. Similar to the athletic performance-boosting properties of deer antler velvet, the other benefits that the supplement provides contribute to the anti-aging effects of the supplement. Things like increased joint function, blood health, brain function, and other general health benefits all play a role in the anti-aging properties of deer antler velvet.

Also similarly to athletic performance, anti-aging properties are a complex thing to keep track of. In short, monoamine oxidase inhibitors help prevent age-related brain degeneration. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are used in Western medicine as antidepressants, and antihypertensives, which can both be used to help offset some of the health issues that come with aging. From animal studies, it appears that under some circumstances, deer antler velvet acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Therefore, a conclusion can be drawn that deer antler velvet may have anti-aging properties similar to those in regularly prescribed medications in the United States and other Western countries.

Anti-aging is another one of deer antler velvet’s properties that is under comprehensive research and consideration in modern times. Current evidence suggests that deer antler velvet contains similar properties to other anti-aging medications.

As with any substance, deer antler velvet can be toxic if ingested in large enough quantities. Some users may find that taking too much of the supplement causes mild discomfort like an upset stomach or frequent trips to the bathroom. If this occurs, it’s recommended to stop taking the supplement for a few days and lower your dosage when you start to take it again. This discomfort is often enough to clinically limit the use of deer antler velvet in an individual.

There is no evidence of deer antler velvet use ever causing any sort of liver toxicity. But, scientists have estimated that for deer antler velvet to cause liver toxicity, a 200-pound male user would have to take a half-pound of deer antler velvet every day for 90 days. This estimate comes from studies performed on lab rats at the School of the Pharmacy University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

In short: yes, deer antler velvet can be toxic. But, for deer antler velvet to be harmful beyond mild discomfort, you’d have to take an astronomical amount of the supplement, which would be expensive and difficult to obtain.