When people ask this question, they are wondering whether deer antler velvet qualifies specifically as an anabolic androgenicsteroid. So first, let’s discuss whatananabolic androgenicsteroid is.
Anabolic AndrogenicSteroids
Anabolic androgenicsteroids are synthetic versions of testosterone, the primary male hormone.
Steroids work by entering the bloodstream and binding to androgen receptors located within muscle tissue. There, the hormone interacts with the cell’s DNA to stimulate cell growth.
Anabolic steroids are used for some medical conditions. For instance, testosterone may be prescribedfor hormone-related disorders, such as when sex glands produce little or no sex hormones, a condition known as hypogonadism.
However, steroids are also commonly used or abused in sports. This is becausetestosterone is effective for building muscle, increasing strength and endurance, and promoting healing and recovery. They also help burn fat and enhance metabolism.
In the USA, anabolic androgenicsteroids are Schedule 3 controlled substances available only by prescription. The use of steroids is legal only when prescribed by a medical provider. Otherwise, it is illegal to use steroids.
There are more than 30 types of commercial anabolic androgenicsteroids on the open market and black market. They are available as topical creams, patches and injections.
Deer Antler Velvet is Dietary Supplement
Deer antler velvet is not a steroid, but a dietary supplement.
Unlike anabolic androgenicsteroids, deer antler velvet is not synthetic testosterone. It is a completely natural substance and a whole food.
The reason deer antler velvet gets mistakenly grouped into the steroid category is because it contains a wide and diverse range of growth factors. Additionally, studies have shown that deer antler velvet can boost testosterone levels. Therefore, deer antler velvetis sometimes considered a natural "steroid alternative" because its benefitsinclude anabolic and performance enhancing effects. But it clearly does not meet the definition of an anabolic steroid.
Furthermore, deer antler velvet should not be categorized as a performance-enhancing drug(PEDs) either because it is not a pharmaceutical product.
While long-term steroid misuse is known to have harmful side effects, deer antler velvet can been used safely and effectively as it has been for thousands of years.
Growth Factors in Deer Antler Velvet
Below is a list of the growth factors found in deer antler velvet:
- Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)
- Insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2)
- Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-A)
- Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B)
- Epidermal growth factor (EGF)
- Erythropoietin (EPO)
- Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)
- Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)
- Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF9)
- Interleukins
- Nerve growth factor (NGF) and other neurotrophins
- Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
- Vascular endothelial growth factor
Read more aboutdeer antler velvet.
FAQs
Studies report that when used in humans, there is no significant evidence that deer antler velvet operates as a performance-enhancer the way traditional steroids do. Myth #1 already debunks the idea that deer antler velvet is a steroid but the notion that only people like bodybuilders use this product is also false.
Is deer antler velvet a steroid? ›
Therefore, deer antler velvet is sometimes considered a natural "steroid alternative" because its benefits include anabolic and performance enhancing effects. But it clearly does not meet the definition of an anabolic steroid.
Does deer antler velvet actually work? ›
People use deer velvet for athletic performance, high blood pressure, increasing sexual desire, asthma, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Does deer antler velvet grow muscle? ›
Velvet Antler is believed to have a positive impact on growth and neuromuscular function, which could ultimately affect muscle strength and size.
Does deer antler velvet have any side effects? ›
No major side-effects have been reported in previous studies on humans lasting six months. Androgenic (male hormone type) side-effects have been noted in animal studies. The effect antler velvet might have on other medication hasn't been well studied.
Does deer antler velvet mess with testosterone? ›
Studies by both Fisher and Wang indicate that deer antler velvet may increase testosterone levels in men and can help prevent some conditions associated with aging. The estrogen hormone most affected by deer antler velvet is estradiol. Estradiol is a precursor to testosterone.
How long will deer antler velvet stay in your system? ›
How long does deer antler velvet stay in your system? Deer antler velvet (capsules) is a food product. Its nutrients are digested into the body and expelled like any other food in 24 to 72 hours. It does not stay in the body and there is no way to detect it in the body.
Why is deer antler velvet banned? ›
Despite its peculiar name, deer antler velvet has long been on the NCAA and major professional league radars because of its inclusion of one ingredient: insulinlike growth factor-1, or IGF-1, a banned substance.
What does deer velvet do for men? ›
Why do people take deer velvet? This supplement is used or promoted as a treatment for many symptoms and medical conditions, such as: Loss of interest in sex (low libido) Erectile dysfunction.
How much deer antler velvet per day? ›
Maintenance dose: Take one to two capsules twice daily as a food supplement or as professionally advised. Acute dose: Take three capsules twice a day with a main meal. We recommend taking Deep Blue Health Deer Velvet with food, preferably immediately before a meal.
Deer velvet covers the growing bone and cartilage that becomes deer antlers. It's sometimes used as medicine in Western countries. Deer velvet contains multiple substances including the female sex hormones estrone and estradiol. It also contains substances that might help cells grow and function.
Why does Bucked Up use deer antler velvet? ›
When the tissue from these antlers is harvested, it is utilized to synthesize our proprietary formula. The concept that brought us stem cell research has taken a new direction and has gone into creating this special spray. Deer Antler Velvet reportedly promotes cell reproduction and regeneration in humans.
Does deer antler velvet help hair growth? ›
Some key components in velvet deer antler include lysophosphatidylcholine, which possesses hypotensive activity [36], improving circulation and regulating blood flow, which is essential for stimulation of the scalp and hair growth.
How does deer antler velvet make you feel? ›
Deer velvet is used to boost strength and endurance, improve the way the immune system works, counter the effects of stress, and promote rapid recovery from illness. It is also used at the onset of winter to ward off infections.
Should I take deer antler velvet? ›
Deer velvet is touted to improve athletic performance, strength, and endurance, but there is no scientific evidence to support any of these claims. The safety surrounding deer velvet as a dietary supplement has not been well researched.
Does deer antler velvet contain HGH? ›
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 (HGH) stimulation.
Is deer antler velvet and IGF-1 the same? ›
Deer antler velvet has been attributed as a source of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), which in its synthetic form is a banned substance included on the WADA prohibited list.
Is deer antler velvet FDA approved? ›
Marketing and FDA warning letters
Additionally stated by the FDA, velvet antler was "not generally recognized as safe and effective for the referenced conditions" and therefore must be treated as a "new drug" under Section 21(p) of the Act.
Why is IGF-1 banned? ›
Owing to the growth promoting properties of IGF-I it belongs to the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency, and the determinations of its abuse or corresponding synthetic derivatives is of paramount importance.
