5. Performance Enhancing Effects of Velvet Antler

Velvet antler has often been regarded as having performance enhancing effects on the human body. There is scientific evidence from a number of studies that have revealed such effects in both animals and humans. For example, Brekhman et al. (1969) showed that pantocrin increased the working capacity of mice. Russian scientists Yudin and Dubryakov (1974) have reported that control athletes on an exercise cycle performed 15 kg/m of dynamic work whereas those given pantocrin increased this considerably to 74 kg/m and those given rantarin (a preparation of reindeer antler) increased to 103 kg/m. In a like manner, the athletic performance in a 3000m run was enhanced following patocrin administration (Brekhman et al. 1969). According to Russian scientist Korobkov (1974, cited by Fulder 1980b) with regards to the use of velvet antler in athletes, the action is primarily aimed at accelerating the restorative processes after intensive activity and at increasing the body’s resistance to unfavorable external influences. In essence, pantocrin and other naturally occurring substances in velvet antler have served to accelerate the body’s natural restorative processes.

For well over a decade, Dr. Arkady Koltun, MD, Ph.D., Chairman of the Medical Committee for the Russian BodyBuilding Federation, has conducted research into anabolic agents that are known to improve performance, strength, and musculature in atheletes. In studies with Russian kayakers, weightlifters, bodybuilders and powerlifters, Dr. Koltun found that velvet antler has both myotropic (increases muscular strength) and neurotropic (nerve strengthening) properties. He also found properties in antler that are beneficial in treating infectious disease, fatigue and hypertension.

The performance enhancing effects of velvet antler are likely the results of increasing the circulating levels of androgens in the blood of these atheletes. There is now considerable evidence for the gonadotrophic effects of velvet antler. Androgens (testosterone and its metabolites) are known to stimulate the development of seminal vesicles and the prostate gland of sexually immature neonate rats, or retard the degeneration of these organs in newly castrated animals. Velvet antler preparations pantocrine and rantarin have all been shown to have androgenic effects.

Haematopoietic effects of velvet antler have been demonstrated in numerous experiments. Preparations of velvet antler have been shown to stimulate red blood cell synthesis and increase erythropoietic activity in cases of drug induced anemia in rabbits and rats. It seems likely that such erythropoietic activity may well be responsible for at least part of the stamina-improving effects of velvet antler preparations in distance runners. In this sense, the responses would be similar to those ascribed to blood-doping where an athlete in re-transfused with his own blood prior to competition.

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