Velvet Antler Relieves Symptoms of Arthritis

News Release -- North American Elk Breeders Association,

January 8, 1999.

The first health claim of velvet antler to be substantiated by scientific evidence, in compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, was announced by the North American Elk Breeders Association (NAEBA) today.

Executive Director Ben Coplan said the determination, made by two consulting firms hired by NAEBA -- Nutrinfo of Watertown, Massachusetts, and Tradeworks Group, Inc. of Brattleboro, Vermont -- is a significant breakthrough for the nation's 1,500 breeders of farm-raised elk.

According to Coplan, the Nutrinfo report states there is reasonable basis to claim that velvet antler helps relieve the symptoms of arthritis. However, a disease claim may be used for a dietary supplement in the U.S.; therefore, the acceptable statement for product labels and advertisements of a dietary supplement would be "provides nutritional support for joint structure and function."

Many studies have shown most of the carbohydrate in antler is proteoglycan, which is a combination of protein and carbohydrate. The carbohydrate portion is primarily glycosaminoglcan, of which chondroitin sulfate is, by far, the predominant constituent. One study cited by the Nutrinfo report evaluated the clinical efficacy ofchondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis. Treatment with 3 x 400 mg doses per day for 90 days provided significant relief from symptoms reported by patients.

"We intend to research and substantiate other health benefits claims for velvet antler," Coplan said. "We want to carefully research the potential benefits of velvet antler supplements for supporting the immune system, anti-aging, muscle strength and endurance, and sexual vitality."

Velvet antler has been highly regarded in traditional oriental medicine for two thousand years. It is consumed regularly by people of Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong as a highly prized medicinal drug to treat blood loss, weakness, and chronic joint pain. Scientific studies in Canada and New Zealand are now verifying the health benefits of this important supplement.

The FDA in the United States regulates claims for dietary supplements through a process which is different than for medicinal drugs; it does not "approve" dietary supplements, but allows producers to substantiate structure/function claims through critical review of scientific studies.

In North America, farmers and ranchers raise approximately 110,000 elk, the largest of the deer family. While elk are sources of excellent meat, the primary animal product is velvet antler, harvested annually in the spring. The average bull elk will produce 15 to 20 pounds of antler each year, for as long as 15 years. Historically, the velvet antler harvested by North American farmers has been exported to Asian countries. As the natural foods and dietary supplement market has expanded in the U.S., farmers have turned their attention to the domestic market.

The North American Elk Breeders Association was founded in 1990 to support and promote the raising of elk as alternative livestock. Association headquarters is in Platte City, MO. Copies of the scientific report on velvet antler are available from the NAEBA office.