Strength
Deer Antler Velvet Extract
Deer antler velvet is marketed for growth factors, but human training studies do not support the claims.
How it counts: Not part of the score
We show it on the label and count it as disclosed, but it never affects Dose, any sub-score or the grade. The basis below explains why.
- Clinical dose
- No established clinical dose
- Safety ceiling
- —
- Evidence
- weak
- Category
- Strength
Evidence summary
Research confidence: low
No reference dose. Deer antler velvet is marketed for its IGF-1 (a growth factor), but in training trials it did not raise IGF-1 or other hormones: in 10-week studies, strength gains matched placebo apart from one knee-strength result the authors say may be chance (Sleivert 2003), and 560 mg a day did nothing for rowers' performance (Syrotuik 2005). A systematic review found the claims are not based on rigorous human research (Gilbey 2012), and whether IGF-1 swallowed by mouth reaches the blood is unproven. The 50 mg in these products is about a tenth of the dose that failed in rowers.
Research sources
- Health benefits of deer and elk velvet antler supplements: a systematic review of randomised controlled studies (Gilbey & Perezgonzalez, N Z Med J 2012)(opens in new window)
- The effects of deer antler velvet extract or powder supplementation on aerobic power, erythropoiesis, and muscular strength and endurance characteristics (Sleivert et al., Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2003)(opens in new window)
38 active men, 10 weeks of strength training, double-blind: 6RM strength rose equally in all groups; powder (not extract) group gained more isokinetic knee strength, which the authors warn may be a chance finding; no change in IGF-1, testosterone, red cells or VO2max
- Effect of elk velvet antler supplementation on the hormonal response to acute and chronic exercise in male and female rowers (Syrotuik et al., Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2005)(opens in new window)
46 rowers, 560 mg/day for 10 weeks: no difference from placebo in VO2max, 2000 m time, strength or any hormone
- WADA urges vigilance over Deer Antler Velvet Spray (World Anti-Doping Agency statement, 5 Feb 2013)(opens in new window)
IGF-1 is prohibited under S2; deer antler velvet spray may contain IGF-1 and could lead to a positive test; 'no guarantee that IGF-1 taken orally will not influence the plasma level of IGF-1'
- Detection of human insulin-like growth factor-1 in deer antler velvet supplements (Cox & Eichner, Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2013)(opens in new window)
Anti-doping lab analysis: 4 of 6 commercial deer antler velvet supplements contained human (pharmaceutical) IGF-1, i.e. adulteration
- Natural Products Derived from Plants and Animals (USADA)(opens in new window)
Deer antler velvet and colostrum can contain detectable IGF-1, a WADA-prohibited substance
- Deer antler velvet as a multifunctional natural resource for biomedical and nutraceutical applications (Lee et al., Food Sci Anim Resour 2026)(opens in new window)
Recent review: most data are cell and animal studies; whether oral growth factors such as IGF-1 have any effect in the body 'remains incompletely defined'