Researchers Study Deer Antler Velvet

XINHUA, New Zealand--The New Zealand Game Industry Board and the government-ownedAgResearch-Invermay conducted a study which found that athletes who consumed powdered deerantler velvet improved in strength, endurance and muscle recovery.

In the study, 51 male athletes were supervised during a 12-week period and were giveneither the antler velvet supplement or a placebo. After just two weeks, those given thesupplement showed a significant reduced elevation of creatine kinase levels in theirbloodstream and recovered from muscle soreness 24 hours earlier than those on the placebo.

Deer antler velvet is the early stage of antler growth on male deer. The companyreports that removal of the antler does not harm the deer.