The effects of deer antler velvet extract or powder supplementation on aerobic power, erythropoiesis, and muscular strength and endurance characteristics.
To determine the effects of deer antler velvet on maximal aerobic performance and the trainability of muscular strength and endurance, 38 active males were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to either deer antler velvet extract (n = 12), powder (n = 13), or placebo groups (n = 13). Subjects were tested prior to beginning supplementation and a 10-week strength program, and immediately post-training. All subjects were measured for circulating levels of testosterone, insulin-like growth factor, erythropoietin, red cell mass, plasma volume, and total blood volume. Additionally, muscular strength, endurance, and VO2max were determined. All groups improved 6 RM strength equivalently (41 +/- 26%, p < .001), but there was a greater increase in isokinetic knee extensor strength (30 +/- 21% vs. 13 +/- 15%, p = .04) and endurance (21 +/- 19% vs. 7 +/- 12%, p = .02) in the powder compared to placebo group. There were no endocrine, red cell mass or VO2max changes in any group. These findings do not support an erythropoetic or aerobic ergogenic effect of deer antler velvet. Further, the inconsistent findings regarding the effects of deer antler velvet powder supplementation on the development of strength suggests that further work is required to test the robustness of the observation that this supplement enhances the strength training response and to ensure this observation is not a type I error.
Sleivert
Gordon
G
Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 5A3.
Burke
Val
V
Palmer
Craig
C
Walmsley
Alan
A
Gerrard
David
D
Haines
Stephen
S
Littlejohn
Roger
R
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000999:Antlers; D003670:Deer; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011208:Powders / Q000494:pharmacology; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
D006728:Hormones; D011208:Powders; D014020:Tissue Extracts