Testosterone is a very important hormone as it is involved in making protein,   manufacturing bone, and improving oxygen uptake throughout the body.  Women also produce testosterone, but not as much as men.  It helps control blood sugar, cholesterol, and helps maintain the immune system.  Testosterone also helps mental concentration and mood, and is thought to help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease.

Numerous research studies in North America demonstrate that velvet antler increases testosterone levels in men and estrogen levels in women.  It should be clarified that these studies are not saying that velvet antler contains testosterone or estrogen, but that velvet antler contains nutrients that are necessary in the production, utilization, and absorption of testosterone and estrogen in the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder, resulting in chronic inflammation of joints, tissue around the joints, and other organs in the body.  Cause of this painful disease is unknown, though there are several theories.

Some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain, heat, and swelling, particularly in the morning and after long periods of inactivity.  As the disease progresses, cartilage, joints, ligaments and tendons begin to break down, causing loss of joint function.

While rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory, systemic type of disease, osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease.  Actual breakdown of cartilage that covers the ends of bones occurs.

Perhaps the most prevalent bone disorder world-wide is osteoporosis.  This disease is characterized by thinning of the bones, causing increased risk of cracking or breaking.  

Many of the nutrients found in velvet antler are important for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and osteopiororis sufferers.  Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, essential fatty acids, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, zinc, selenium, growth hormones, and growth factors are all vital for growth and maintenance of joints, tissues, and synovial fluids.

Compliance has been met with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations to allow a claim to be made about velvet antler products.  The specific claim substantiated by scientific evidence states that velvet antler "provides nutritional support for joint structure and function."

Improves cell growth, Anti-tumor and anti-viral properties

Dr. Fennesy, Invermay Research Center, Otago, New Zealand

Based on results of numerous studies, velvet antler has been shown to have performance enhancing effects in both humans and animals.  For example, research was done in Russia in which anabolic agents known to improve performance and muscular strength in athletes were analyzed.  When studies using velvet antler were done, it showed that kayakers, weightlifters, bodybuilders, and power lifters all increased both muscular and nerve strength.

The aim of taking velvet antler, according to one Russian scientist with the Russian Bodybuilding Federation, is to resist unfavorable external influences and accelerate the restorative processes (quicker recovery) of the body after intensive activity.

The immune system weakens with age, leaving the body less able to heal and repair itself.  Some people experience memory loss and decreased ability to solve problems.  As one grows older, a decrease in the body's ability to digest food properly often leads to nutritional deficiencies and diseases related to these deficiencies.  Available research suggests that components, such as growth hormones and growth factors (and possibly some yet to be discovered components) available in velvet antler, may be key in slowing the aging process.

One of the growth factors in velvet antler is IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor).  A study conducted at Oxford University in England led researchers to believe that IGF-1 was shown to promote muscular development, prevent muscular atrophy (breakdown), and slow deteriorating effects of aging.  Further research on anti-aging effects of velvet antler needs to be done.

Though investigation has only just begun in North America, research findings and medical accounts from Asia and New Zealand are already convincing.  Reports suggest that velvet antler stimulates the body's metabolism and protects and restores damaged organ tissues by accelerating healing.  By increasing phagocytic functions, velvet antler is also thought to help the body battle invaders that produce inflammation.