NZ Deer Velvet & IGF - Media Statement

NZ Deer Velvet & IGF - Media Statement

In the last few days there has been considerable media coverage surrounding the use of so-called “Deer Velvet Sprays” by professional athletes both in New Zealand and internationally. Several notable sporting professionals have admitted to using deer antler velvet supplements in their training to provide a performance enhancing benefit by increasing levels of the natural hormone IGF-1.

Much of this reporting is factually confusing through the use of generic terms such as “Deer Velvet”, “Deer Antler” and “Deer Horn” particularly as products derived from deer velvet are available in differing delivery forms.

The current media debate centres on the use of specific liquid spray products derived from Deer Velvet. These products are highly concentrated, purified forms of a protein complex called Insulin like growth factor (IGF) contained within a liquid matrix, that is administered sublingually in order to reach the blood stream in high concentrations.

Due to the form of delivery there is some debate as to the legal position of such products under supplement legislation internationally. The view of Mountain Red is that the IGF-1 spray product, while purported to originate from NZ velvet, has been refined to such a degree (to concentrate IGF-1 levels) that it would not considered as a velvet product by the US FDA – rather an IGF-1 product.

In contrast, Mountain Red® Deer velvet is a powdered extract of whole tip New Zealand Deer Velvet. The product is sourced exclusively for Mountain Red, and does not undergo any form of chemical modification, concentration or alteration. In addition the Mountain Red product is guaranteed drug (xylazine) free and is manufactured from the highest grades of New Zealand Deer Velvet.

Mountain Red is a whole Deer Velvet supplement rich in a complex range of naturally occurring bioactives. Whilst containing a number of complex proteins, including IGF-1, these are present in levels that are naturally occurring in velvet itself.

In addition, Deer Velvet has a long history of use as a natural health product with a history tracing back over 2000 years. Mountain Red Velvet is not subject to any manufacturing process that involves concentration or refinement. Velvet does contain IGF–1, which is naturally occurring and can be found in many foods such as milk and red meat.

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