Side Effects of Velvet
While there are a lot of health benefit claims on the elk antler velvet product there are still many people who are asking if there are any side effects of elk antler velvet.
We need to clear one thing first though. Products that are sold as supplements (as opposed to medications) are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration so they are not tested for safety, efficacy or standardization. In other words, when you buy a supplement, there is no guarantee that what is in the bottle has been tested to see if it even contains the ingredient in question, let alone whether the ingredient actually does what it claims to. (source) Elk velvet antler products are currently not regulated yet but there have been continuous research about its health benefit claims. According to a recent study, it has been proven to be effective as treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, sexual function, and sporting performance enhancement.
The good news is that there are no known deer antler velvet side effects as we speak, provided that you use authentic, high-quality, pure-grade elk antler velvet products.
Korean doctor Peter Yoon says he has not seen any severe toxic side effects with the product. Dr. Yoon says that if too much velvet deer antler is taken, mild upset stomach may occur, which disappears if use of the product is stopped. According to Dr. Koltun, people with circulation problems, congenital heart disease or angina (heart pain) should not take velvet deer antler. (source)
What makes elk antler velvet products controversial is because of the insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) which is currently labeled as a performance enhancing drug. This hormone stimulates human growth hormone (HGH) production, which is perfectly normal for children (it is naturally occurring during childhood to adolescence) but anabolic for adults. However, elk antler velvet helps your body create more of its own growth hormone, which is completely natural to itself. It doesn’t inject you with HGH – which when done artificially causes serious side effects – it stimulates production naturally.
Despite the fact that there are no known deer antler velvet side effects, it might still be a good idea to consult with your physician to make sure that the supplement is safe for you.
