Drs. Takikawa and Kajihara in Japan in the 1970's found that pantocrin sped up the healing process of damaged neural tissues.

In Canada, a team working with Dr. Jeong Sim at the University of Alberta has observed a number of interim results from consumption of velvet antler or antler extracts, including:

· Enhanced cell and whole animal growth

· Anti-stress and anti-inflammatory properties

· Increase in HDL (desirable) cholesterol

· Increase in red blood cell counts

The Market for Velvet Antler

The velvet antler market is difficult to quantify, largely because customs classifications and agricultural statistics vary from country to country. Korea and Hong Kong are major importers of whole antlers, and they process and re-export sizeable quantities to Europe and North America. Korean imports seem to account for about 85% of the international export market and are currently valued at more that $1 Billion. A much larger quantity, possibly as much as ten times as much, in consumed in the producing countries.

New Zealand is a major supplier of antler to the world market. Exports from that country approached 600 tonnes (200 tonnes dried) in 1996. China has greatly expanded its productive capacity to over 400 tonnes fresh weight, but expert opinions seem to vary greatly each year. Russia has produced about 80 tonnes of excellent quality antler in past years, but this has changed with the restructuring of the country. Recently, larger quantities of product of variable quality have been offered to international buyers. Product from Eastern Europe also has increased sharply. North America is still a small player, producing about 100 tonnes in 1997.

With the increasing affluence of all Asian countries, consumption of "luxury" nutraceuticals like velvet antler is expected to increase. Here in North America, we have all witnessed a rise in popularity and confidence in nutraceuticals and natural medicines of all kinds. Velvet antler fits in well with that trend, especially with the long and deep history it brings. The primary obstacle that our industry faces in accessing the North American market is the lack of solid evidence based on "Western science" to substantiate the knowledge provided by traditional Asian medicine. We have begun, but only just.

Elk Antler Product Development

Dr. Sim has been conducting a series of research projects since 1986, characterizing the chemical and pharmacological properties of velvet antler and developing product technology of antler nutraceuticals. Dr. Sim's group has generated 18 peer reviewed publications and two graduate students in the research discipline of Antler Science and Product Technology at the University of Alberta. His group has explored velvet's potential uses as functional foods for human health, and developed a patented technology producing a variety of food/pharmaceutical grade antler products.

· USA Patent (60/050,799), "A process for the production of antler extract for nutraceuticals (July 27, 1997, approved)

· Canada Patent (2,227,312) "nutraceutical antler extract powder and a method of producing same"(January 16, 1998, filed and approved)

· Prototypes of Antler-Based Nutraceutical Products were developed as below:

Glyosant Capsule:

hondroprotective food supplement rich in glycosa-minoglycans as chondrotin sulfate, derived from elk antler, for the treatment of osteoarthritis patients.

Ossifort Capsule:

Food supplement rich in mineral complex and bone growth factor, derived from elk antler, for the treatment of osteoarthritis patients.

VelvetAntler Nutritional Bar:

Nutritional snack bar containing antler extracts and w-3 PUFA, Vitamin E, A, and Calcium.

The ASPT Symposium

Leading researchers around the world from many different disciplines have begun to look at antler beyond its traditional herbal medicinal uses; however, seldom do they have the opportunity to meet and share their expertise and research findings in these diversified disciplines. Dr./ Sim organized and hosted the first International Symposium on Antler Science and Product Technology (ASPT) in Banff, Alberta, April 9-12, 2000.

This symposium, the first of its kind, was designed to assist in linking the West to the East, connecting producers to consumers and uniting scientists with the business community. The meeting attracted an internationally diverse group of people; business professionals, scientific researchers, public health professionals, processors, farmers and consumers from eight different countries. It was an unqualified success.

The meeting has earned overwhelming support and enthusiasm from the industry and the scientific community, it was a true example of team effort between the university and the industry. The symposium attracted over 300 delegates from 14 different countries.

Over 27 invited plenary speakers contributed the highest quality scientific papers and 31 poster presentations in a wide range of technology disciplines. A video media release on the symposium, funded by NAEBA and the Alberta Elk Association, is available to