Deer antler velvet
A systematic review of 7 RCTs found 5 showed no effect and 2 showed effects its authors judged unconvincing. In two training trials, blood testosterone, IGF-1, VO2max and rowing performance did not differ from placebo. One trial found greater knee strength gains with antler powder. Human IGF-1, a pharmaceutical protein, was detected in 4 of 6 supplements tested.
- Status
- Dietary supplement in the US.
- Also called
- deer antler, velvet antler, elk velvet antler, EVA, deer antler spray, cervus, lu rong, pantocrine, IGF-1 spray
- Taken for
- strength, muscle growth, IGF-1, testosterone, recovery, endurance, joint health, libido
Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on
Shown to help1
What people take it for, and what was found
Shown to help1
Strength in adults with reduced muscle function
One trial found a fermented deer antler extract improved grip strength, leg strength and chair stands in adults with reduced muscle function.
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- In a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in adults with reduced muscle function, a deer antler extract fermented with Latilactobacillus curvatus HY7602 improved hand grip strength, right quadriceps strength and chair-stand performance compared with placebo [3].
- Population
- Adults with reduced muscle function [3].
- Sources
- [3]
- Caveats
- One trial of one fermented product. The abstract gives no sample size or effect sizes [3].
Mixed results1
Strength gains with training
Small trials found opposite results: antler powder raised knee strength more than placebo in one, while elk velvet antler did not change strength gains in rowers.
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- In 38 active men on a 10-week strength program, 6-repetition-maximum strength rose 41% in all groups equally. Isokinetic knee extensor strength rose 30% with antler powder against 13% with placebo, and endurance 21% against 7%. The extract group did not differ from placebo [1]. In 46 rowers over 10 weeks, 560 mg a day of elk velvet antler did not change leg or bench press strength gains compared with placebo [2].
- Population
- 38 active men [1]; 25 male and 21 female rowers [2].
- Sources
- [1], [2]
- Caveats
- Sources disagree. The authors of [1] wrote that the strength finding needs testing to rule out a type I error.
Not shown to help3
Hormones, IGF-1 and testosterone
Not shown to change testosterone, IGF-1 or erythropoietin in active men or rowers, in two small trials.
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- Circulating testosterone, insulin-like growth factor and erythropoietin did not change in any group over 10 weeks [1]. In rowers, no hormonal response at rest or after a simulated 2,000 m race differed between antler and placebo [2].
- Population
- 38 active men [1]; 46 rowers [2].
- Sources
- [1], [2]
- Caveats
- Two small trials.
Aerobic capacity and endurance
Not shown to change VO2 max or rowing performance beyond placebo in two small trials of active men and rowers.
Arthritis
One trial found elk velvet antler did not differ from placebo over 6 months in 168 adults with rheumatoid arthritis.
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- In 168 people with rheumatoid arthritis on standard treatment, 6 months of elk velvet antler did not differ from placebo on joint pain and swelling, disease activity, function, quality of life or CRP [4]. A systematic review identified 2 rheumatoid arthritis trials and 1 osteoarthritis trial, and its authors wrote that the osteoarthritis findings may have some promise [5].
- Population
- Adults with stage 2 to 3 rheumatoid arthritis [4]; RCTs [5].
- Sources
- [4], [5]
- Caveats
- One osteoarthritis trial.
Doses studied
The rowing trial used 560 mg a day of elk velvet antler for 10 weeks [2]. The strength trial compared an extract and a powder for 10 weeks, and its abstract does not give the doses [1]. The arthritis trial ran 6 months [4].
Risks
Reported risks1
Human IGF-1 found in products
Limited evidence: lab tests found human IGF-1, which WADA prohibits, in 4 of 6 deer antler velvet supplements.
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- Six commercial deer antler velvet supplements were tested by mass spectrometry for deer and human IGF-1. A match to human IGF-1 was found for every transition measured in 4 of the 6. The authors note that IGF-1 is on WADA's prohibited list [6].
- Population
- Six products [6].
- Sources
- [6]
- Caveats
- A small sample of products. The study identified human IGF-1 but did not report amounts in the abstract.
Checked, no increase found1
Adverse events in trials
One trial found adverse events did not differ from placebo over 6 months in 168 adults with rheumatoid arthritis.
Claims tested and not found
- That antler velvet raises testosterone or IGF-1 in the blood. Neither changed over 10 weeks of training [1][2].
- That antler velvet improves aerobic capacity. VO2max, red cell mass and rowing time did not differ from placebo [1][2].
- That antler velvet relieves rheumatoid arthritis. No outcome differed from placebo over 6 months [4].
Sources
- Sleivert G, Burke V, Palmer C, et al. The Effects of Deer Antler Velvet Extract or Powder Supplementation on Aerobic Power, Erythropoiesis, and Muscular Strength and Endurance Characteristics. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 2003. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.13.3.251
- Syrotuik DG, MacFadyen KL, Harber VJ, et al. Effect of Elk Velvet Antler Supplementation on the Hormonal Response to Acute and Chronic Exercise in Male and Female Rowers. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 2005. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.15.4.366
- Hong DK, Jeon S, Jo MY, et al. Effect of HY7602-Fermented Deer Antler Extract on Selected Muscle-Related Outcomes and Fermentation-Associated Metabolomic Profiles. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2026. https://doi.org/10.4014/jmb.2604.04018
- Allen M, Oberle K, Grace M, et al. A Randomized Clinical Trial of Elk Velvet Antler in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Biological Research For Nursing. 2008. https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800407309505
- Gilbey A, Perezgonzalez JD. Health benefits of deer and elk velvet antler supplements: a systematic review of randomised controlled studies. New Zealand Medical Journal. 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23321886/
- Cox HD, Eichner D. Detection of human insulin-like growth factor-1 in deer antler velvet supplements. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.6678