Shark Cartilage

See also : Bovine Cartilage

Special Precautions of Shark Cartilage

• Shark cartilage may trigger a number of adverse effects, including nausea, indigestion, fatigue, fever, dizziness, constipation, and low blood pressure.
• There's also some concern that shark cartilage may affect liver function and impair recovery from surgery.
• Recently, it was discovered that shark cartilage may contain high levels of a compound called beta-methylamino-L-alanine, or BMAA, which has been linked to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease. Shark
• Since shark cartilage may increase your calcium levels, it should be avoided by people with abnormally high blood levels of calcium (a condition known as hypercalcemia).
• In addition, people with seafood allergies may experience allergic reactions when consuming shark cartilage.
• Consult your doctor before using any presented information as a form of treatment. Use alternative cancer treatments as a supplement to treatments you receive from your doctor — not as a substitute for medical care. Apply the treatment only under control of an expert.

The benefits of Shark Cartilage are

Shark cartilage contains several compounds purported to improve health, including proteins known as proteoglycans and glycoproteins. Shark cartilage also contains collagen.

• Cancer : Much attention has been focused on shark cartilage as a treatment for cancer. It is believed that it inhibits a tumor's ability to create new blood vessels thereby starving it away. Questions have arisen about the statement that "Shark's don't get cancer." New studies may show that sharks do get cancer, but even if they don't, it is has been theorized that this may be because of the mineral rich environment sharks live in and not due to the "shark cartilage." More information is needed on this type of therapy. One of the most popular sources of shark cartilage is BeneFin by Lane Labs.
• Psoriasis : There's some evidence that shark cartilage shows promise in the treatment of psoriasis, however. For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2002 found that AE-941 (a product containing shark cartilage extract) may help control psoriasis symptoms. The study involved 49 patients with psoriasis, each of whom received varying doses of AE-941 for 12 weeks. Results revealed that those given higher doses of AE-941 experienced significant improvements in several symptoms of psoriasis, including itching.

References

• American Cancer Society. "Shark Cartilage." December 2012.
• Gingras D, Renaud A, Mousseau N, Béliveau R. "Shark cartilage extracts as antiangiogenic agents: smart drinks or bitter pills?" Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2000;19(1-2):83-6.
• Miller DR, Anderson GT, Stark JJ, Granick JL, Richardson D. "Phase I/II trial of the safety and efficacy of shark cartilage in the treatment of advanced cancer." J Clin Oncol. 1998 Nov;16(11):3649-55.
• Loprinzi CL, Levitt R, Barton DL, Sloan JA, Atherton PJ, Smith DJ, Dakhil SR, Moore DF Jr, Krook JE, Rowland KM Jr, Mazurczak MA, Berg AR, Kim GP; North Central Cancer Treatment Group. "Evaluation of shark cartilage in patients with advanced cancer: a North Central Cancer Treatment Group trial." Cancer. 2005 Jul 1;104(1):176-82.
• Ostrander GK, Cheng KC, Wolf JC, Wolfe MJ. "Shark cartilage, cancer and the growing threat of pseudoscience." Cancer Res. 2004 Dec 1;64(23):8485-91.
• Sauder DN, Dekoven J, Champagne P, Croteau D, Dupont E. "Neovastat (AE-941), an inhibitor of angiogenesis: Randomized phase I/II clinical trial results in patients with plaque psoriasis." J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002 Oct;47(4):535-41.

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.