What is it and where does it come from?

Deer antler velvet is a name that's used to describe the antler velvet harvested from the antlers of growing deer, moose, caribou and elk. The antlers are removed from the animal before they solidify into solid bone, and the velvet is harvested with no harm coming to the animal.

Deer antler also contains calcium, magnesium, zinc, and a full spectrum of amino acids.

Most deer antler velvet sold as a dietary supplement comes from Korea or Australia.

What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?

Deer antler velvet has been used in China for over 2000 years.

The effects of deer antler velvet on health will depend on the animal from which it was taken (deer, caribou, moose or elk) and the diet of the animal. Scientific studies on deer antler velvet are scarce.

Deer antler velvet is a natural source of glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen. The body uses glucosamine to manufacture glycosaminoglycans that are found in cartilage tissue.

Deer antler velvet also contains male and female hormones, including Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) - a hormone that's produced in the liver as a response to growth hormone stimulation. IGF-1 (somatomedin C).

Deer antler velvet is not an essential nutrient and no daily requirement (RDA) exists. No symptoms of deficiency exist.

Healthy adults can benefit from supplementing with deer antler velvet.

No side-effects are known.

It's not known if deer antler velvet interacts with other drugs.

Some people may have allergies to deer antler velvet.