The author or this blog supports a fine Welsh Corgi (Queen's dogs) who causes a multitude of trouble. Not only is the beast grouchy, but it tends to chase deer. It brings home deer parts, like legs, bones, and horns. Deer horns. Was thinking of using one of the horns as a knife handle, but wait, perhaps it should be ground up and sprayed under the tongue. Sprayer could then tackle like Ray Lewis and putt like VJ Singh. If athletes are willing to ante up, it will bilk someone out of money, while producing nothing but a headache.
How can a deer horn cause trouble? Like seemly every substance found under the sun, and some under other suns, some enterprising entrepreneur will market this substance as a PED, to bilk athletes -- who seem to stop at nothing to enhance performance -- out of their cash money.
The devil you say, Ray Lewis using deer antlers? VJ Singh withdrawing from a tournament apparently as a result of the spray.
The proponents of deer horn extract claim it is a source of IGF-1 (insulin like growth hormone -1 ) which is like HGH, or they hope a powerful anabolic substance. Deer horns grow fast don't they?
The logic is infallible. Deer antler grow fast (as fast the the national debt? As fast as hemlock?). Deer antler contain incredible substances that enhance growth of muscle, bone, teeth, cartilage, spinal fluid, bond yields, who knows? And it will work for you if you buy it (at a high price) and spray it under your tongue. Hey, we even have references.
Are there are any actual scientific studies supporting the use of the substance? Does it matter that these peptide hormones are digested before they are absorbed. Can we buy some snake oil?
In a review by Rameriz in 2004 (PRHSJ: 23: 189) she comments on the use of deer antler, and the dearth of published clinical trials. She brings up the possibility of fraud.
A search finds no evidence of any clinical trials. (however someone is attempting to patent IGF-1 as a treatment for Autism). So why would anyone care if the spray is pure IGF-1, because it isn't going to be absorbed anyway.
A "Dr Andro" supports the deer antler hoax with a reference. Here is what the reference abstract says:
There were no endocrine, red cell mass or VO2max changes in any group. These findings do not support an erythropoetic or aerobic ergogenic effect of Deer Antler Velvet. Further, the inconsistent findings regarding the effects of deer antler velvet powder supplementation on the development of strength suggests that further work is required to test the robustness of the observation that this supplement enhances the strength training response and to ensure this observation is not a type I error.
It was not significant!
So why is the substance banned? Contamination? And why would anyone want to use this junk? To improve his wedge from the sand trap?
Amazing!
Ummmm, where did the Corgi put that deer antler now....
