| Shark Cartilage Benefits |
| SHARK CARTILAGE SIDE EFFECTS HYPERCALCEMIA Cartilage nutritional supplements are not perceived as medications and are presumed to be safe, who may however be at risk for hypercalcemia. Lagman R and Walsh D. at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center reported eight cases of hypercalcemia in cancer patients at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in whom these nutritional supplements may have contributed to the prevalence or severity of hypercalcemia. Dangerous nutrition? Calcium, vitamin D, and shark cartilage nutritional supplements and cancer-related hypercalcemia. Support Care Cancer. 2003 Apr;11(4):232-5.Epub 2003 Jan 15. HEAVY METAL CONTENT Kim M from Korea FDA pointed out that calcium supplements mad of shark cartilage had the highest means of mercury and cadmium. The mean daily intakes of mercury and cadmium from the supplement were estimated in the range of 0.1-0.2 microg, which were still below the 0.4% of provisional tolerable daily intakes.Mercury, cadmium and arsenic contents of calcium dietary supplements. Food Addit Contam. 2004 Aug;21(8):763-7. INTRODUCTION Angiogenesis is an important feature for tumor growth. In the past, cartilage has been shown to be a natural source of material with strong antiangiogenic activities. And, some manufacturers claimed that shark cartilage can be used to treat diseases like osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis as well as eczema. In this article, we summarize the key research findings about shark cartilage's pharmacological effects in the last two years. SHARK CARTILAGE's COMPONENTS Shark cartilage is made up of mainly collagen, amino acids, minerals and glycosaminoglycan. Shark cartilage contains over 40% pure collagen protein, plus essential and non essential amino acids. Collagen and Amino Acids are necessary for elasticity of the tissues, healing of cracked skin, torn ligaments and tendons and growth and rejuvenation of skin and connective tissues. It is also a good source of minerals-calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron and chromium, manganese and silica. These components are essential for the maintenance and normal function of cells, muscles, bones and joints. Glycosaminoglycans attract and retain moisture to resist compression and deliver nutrients to cells that need it. They are also mportant building blocks for joint cartilage components, shock absorbing properties and replenishment of joint fluid lubricant. SHARK CARTILAGE's ANTI-MUTAGENESIS EFFECT Felzenszwalb et al used electrophoretical assays, bacteria survival and transformation to prove that shark cartilage could protect cells against reactive oxygen species induced DNA damage and mutagenesis. [Reference: Shark cartilage-containing preparation: protection against reactive oxygen species, Felzenszwalb et al, Universidade do Estado do, Brazil, Food Chem Toxicol. 1998 Dec;36(12):1079-84.] Kern et al at Harvard Medical School used various methods such as light microscopy, flow cytometry to identifythat the active region of troponin I (in shark cartilage) was the molecule responsible for its antiangiogenic effect. [Reference Troponin I peptide (Glu94-Leu123), a cartilage-derived angiogenesis inhibitor; in vitro and in vivo effects on human endothelial cells and on pancreatic cancer. Kern et al, Harvard Medical School, USA, J Gastrointest Surg. 2003 Dec;7(8):961-8; discussion 969.] In a study of infiltration of CD(4)(+) and CD(8)(+) lymphocytes into a murine tumor model, Feyzi et al found that a protein fraction of shark cartilage had anti-angiogenic effects. This protein faction could also augment cellular immune response and T-cell infilration into the tumor. [Reference Modulation of CD(4)(+) and CD(8)(+) tumor infiltrating lymphocytes by a fraction isolated from shark cartilage: shark cartilage modulates anti-tumor immunity. Feyzi et al, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran, Inti Immunopharmacol. 2003 Jul;3(7):921-6. Shen et al purified SCAIF-I, an inhibitor of angiogenesis, with molecular weight of 18 kD, from shark cartilage and they supproessed 87.93% of the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma implanted in C57BL/6 mice. Reference Purification and Functional Characterization of a Shark Cartilage Factor Inhibitory to Angiogenesis, Shen et al, Naval Medical Research Institute, China, Sheng Wu Hua Xue Yu Sheng Wu Wu Li Xue Bao (Shanghai). 2000;32(1):43-48.] Similar Research- Reference SCAIF80, a Novel Inhibitor of Angiogenesis, and Its Effect on Tumor Growth. Shen et al, Fudan University, China, Sheng Wu Hua Xue Yu Sheng Wu Wu Li Xue Bao (Shanghai). 2001;33(1):99-104. SHARK CARTILAGE's ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT Fontenele et al extracted a wate-soluble fraction (WSF) with 0.1 M ammonium bicarbonate, pH 8.0 from shark cartilage. They found that oral administration of WSF caused 25.7% inhibition of the paw edema produced in female Wistar rats (200-250g) by carrageenan. They also ran some other tests and concluded that a protein molecule in shark cartilage is probably responsible for the anti-inflammatory / analgesic actvities. [Reference Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of a water-soluble fraction from shark cartilage. Fontenele JB et al, Universidade do Estado do, Brazil, Braz J Med Biol Res. 1996 May;29(5):643-6.] SHARK CARTILAGE's POTENTIAL EFFECT ON PSORIASIS Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease associated with dilation of capillaries. In advanced conditions, lesions develop. Cartilage is an "avascular tissue", it was thought that cartilage contained factors to inhibit blood vessel formation. Dupont and his group extracted the active agent (termed AE-941) from shark cartilage and test its antiangiogenesis activity using the embryonic vascularization test. The result suggested that topical AE-941 (Neovostat trade mark; AEterna) had a beneficial effect in psoriasis. [Reference: Antiangiogenic properties of a novel shark cartilage extract: potential role in the treatment of psoriasis. Dupont et al, Les Laboratoires Aeterna, Canada, J. Cutan Med Surg. 1998 Jan:2(3):146-52.] Related Reference AE-941, a multifunctional antiangiogenic compound: trials in renal cell carcinoma. Bukowshi RM, The Cleveland Clinic Raussig Cancer Center, USA, Expert Opin Investig Drugs: 2003 Aug;12(8):1403-11. Related Reference The antiangiogenic agent Neovastat (AE-941) induces endothelial cell apoptosis.Boivin D et al, Loboratoire de medecine moleculaire, Hopital Ste-Justine-Universite du Quebec a Montreal, Canada, Mol Cancer Ther. 2002Aug;1(10):795-802. WARNINGS (1) Children, (2) people who have had a recent heart attack, surgery or major operation, (3) women who are pregnant or breast feeding (4) Body builders or athletes who are attempting to build large muscles should not use cartilage. New blood vessel formation is critical for them. COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (CAM)'s SUMMARY ON THE USE OF CARTILAGE Bovine (cow) cartilage and shark cartilage have been studied as treatments for cancer and other medical conditions for more than 30 years. Three principal mechanisms of action have been proposed to explain the antitumor potential of cartilage: 1) it kills cancer cells directly; 2) it stimulates the immune system; and 3) it blocks the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), which tumors need for unrestricted growth. At least 3 different inhibitors of angiogenesis have been identified in bovine cartilage, and 2 angiogenesis inhibitors have been purified from shark cartilage. THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE USING ANY SUPPLEMENTS OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT RESERVED 2006 zhion inc. |
