Review of Deer Antler Plus – Claims, Risks, and Reality

Deer Antler Plus is a new bodybuilding supplement that features deer antler extract in its formula.

This natural ingredient is all the rage in gyms across America due to claims that it can speed the building of lean muscle, ramp up weight loss, and dramatically improve workout stamina.

Not all deer antler supplements are created equal – variations in antler source and delivery method can make the difference between effective, authentic products and outright scams.

We’ll separate fact from fiction and find out if Deer Antler Plus delivers all of the results it claims to. Plus, we’ll provide a background on why these antler extracts are popular medicinals in 2015.

Deer Antler Extract

Bodybuilding Supplement

Bodybuilding

Joint Health

Sexual Health

How It Works:

• Source of IGF-1 for Muscle Growth
• Supports joint health & functionality
• May aid sexual function & anti-aging

Dosage:

Varies depending on formulation

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

Top Related Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Why Deer Antler Supplements Are Hot

Deer antler velvet is the soft fuzz which grows naturally on deer and antelope antlers during the early stages of their formation.

This fur is laced with veins which carry a rich dose of IGF-1, Insulin-like Growth Factor. It is IGF-1 which gives antlers the ability to form into permanent, bone-hard shapes almost overnight.

For centuries, humans have used trimmings of this material to make health-invigorating tonics. In Chinese medicine, the deer antler, also known as lurong, has been widely used to promote vitality and balance energy. For more background on Chinese medicine and antler uses click here.

Today, this same material is thought of as a highly potent way to stimulate permanent muscle mass and bone growth. It’s so potent that the FDA has prohibited the use of IGF-1 products without the prescription of a doctor. A booming black market economy exists for IGF-1 as well as other synthetic growth hormones, like steroids.

Many weightlifters and other athletes inject these substances directly into muscle, to effect big gains from working out, quickly. Recently, manufacturers started to market deer antler sprays and drops as a legal, safer alternative means of supplementing IGF-1. Deer Antler Plus is one of the latest iterations of the product.

Separating Hype from Real Results

A quick visit to the Deer Antler Plus website reveals a wall of chiseled, muscular bodies alongside the product. Of course, if you read the fine print you’ll note that all images are “stock photos” and have no relationship to results one might expect from the product. These are not real before and after results, which is a red flag that the product may be more hype than reality.

The Deer Antler Plus product is delivered in pill form. This is a glaring problem that is not addressed anywhere on the site. While deer antler extracts are indeed loaded with IGF growth factor, and this growth factor is highly effective in humans, consuming it via a pill just won’t work.

Growth hormones are famously delicate. If supplemented as a dietary ingredient, they are destroyed by the harsh acids the stomach releases to digest foods. That means that taking an oral growth hormone pill will have next to no effect at all.

The only way to effectively consume deer antler extract is in the form of a liquid spray, which can be dissolved under the tongue. That way, stomach digestion is not an issue because the ingredients bypass this step and go straight into the circulation. We can only conclude that the deer antler extract found in this supplement is ineffective.

Deer Antler Plus Ingredients

The Deer Antler Plus website, to its credit, does indicate that the humane treatment of deer is a priority. It describes a harvesting technique which does not injure deer, and the company supports a “no kill” policy. This is to be commended.

However, there is no indication of which country is the source of the deer antlers. Up to 14 nations have developed deer farming industries. This is where antler products come from.

While some countries, like New Zealand, are known for broad quality control and humane treatment of more than 1.8 million deer, other areas, such as Taiwan, are not. We do not know what kind of deer antler extract is contained in this product, making it difficult to predict quality or safety.

What Else Is Added to the Product?

In addition to “elk antler velvet”, the Deer Antler Plus Label indicates that the product contains trace amounts of an assortment of vitamins and minerals. Other herbs included are Ginseng to give a feeling of energy, nettle root which is a natural testosterone booster, and saw palmetto – a supplement typically taken for prostate support. These additional herbs may be employed to heighten antler extract’s noted sexual health benefits.

As described above, very little antler extract from this product will be making it to the bloodstream, so perhaps these additives are included to simulate effects which the antler extract will not be providing. To look at products which successfully employ herbs in a liquid antler extract drop formula click here.

Final Recommendation – Deer Antler Plus

Deer antler extracts are a promising and viable source of growth factor. This material can improve muscle strength, speed up muscle building, and provide support to joints and bones.

However, the Deer Antler Plus product is not the best supplement to deliver these effects. The pill format of the product renders it ineffective, as growth hormone is widely understood to be destroyed during digestion.

It is recommended to try a deer antler extract spray instead, as products in this form are known to deliver active ingredients directly to the blood. You can find good criteria for buying deer antler extracts at this link.

Rate This Article

(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5, rated)