IGF-1 and Joint Health

Joint health issues is very common among adults, and nearly all adults over age 60 have joint issues to some degree. Even young people have joint problems. Even people as young as 16 can have issues with their joints.

Common issues include swelling, stiffness, or sometimes redness surrounding the joint. People sometimes experience difficulty moving or get  popping sounds when attempting certain movements. Common joints that have problems are the hips, fingers, feet, and knees.  

What is deer antler velvet?

Deer Antler Velvet is a superfood that is extracted from the pre-calcified antler of a deer or elk. Deer antlers are fascinating in that they are one of the fastest growing tissues on the planet. This is largely in part to the deer velvet containing insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). This hormone is found naturally within human bodies, but not all individuals will have levels within normal range.

Deer antler velvet also contains many key compounds vital to overall health, such as Chondroitin sulfate, Phosphorus, Magnesium, and Polysaccharides. It also contains Glucosamine Sulfate, which is another one of the key ingredients that may help support joint health.*

IGF-1, Chondroitin Sulfate, and Glucosamine

As mentioned above, deer velvet supplements come with numerous compounds that provide many different health benefits. There are two ingredients that may play a key role in helping with joint health.

IGF-1 for joint health

IGF-1 is similar to insulin and works with growth hormones to speed up the regeneration of cells. There are multiple reports that reference there is likely a strong connection between IGF-1 levels and overall joint health. This leads many to believe that taking deer antler velvet may help support joint health. 

Below are several studies supporting that IGF-1 supplementation could help with joint support. We read through the research, which can be a headache to read, and pulled out the relevant info to summarize the findings. 

1. Science Mag reported on a study conducted by the Journal of Immunology that claims IGF-1 "could be an attractive target" for helping support joints.
2. NBCI conducted a lengthy study showing a connection with joint health and IGF-1.

Chondroitin Sulfate & Glucosamine Sulfate for Joint Health

Aside from IGF-1, Deer Antler Velvet also contains both Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine Sulfate. Both of these natural compounds are likely to help with joint support. Chondroitin and Glucosamine are both found within cartilage of the joints. Specifically, they are focused on retaining water within the joints which is important for cartilage functionality.

1. A study from the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research found a close connection between glucosamine and joint healht. They gathered these results by looking into numerous different tests conducted to measure the impact of Glucosamine and Chondroitin on joint health.
2. Further in-depth research conducted by Maturitas.org concludes that there is significant evidence that Chondroitin and Glucosamine sulfate help support healthy joints. Given that pure deer antler velvet naturally includes both of these compounds, it's likely that deer antler velvet supports joint health as well.