The use of shark cartilage to address cancer and other medical conditions evolved from a curious trait known to this large, carnivorous salt-water fish. According to the American Cancer Institute, sharks, whose skeletons are comprised almost totally of cartilage, generally do not get cancer; malignant tumors in sharks are a rarity. When studied in a laboratory, the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) points out that shark cartilage has demonstrated the ability to reduce inflammation that goes along with rheumatoid arthritis, assuage pain and boost the immune system. However, there are scant studies conducted in humans that prove shark cartilage is beneficial for most of its suggested uses.
Osteoarthritis
The UMMC indicates that the glucosamine and chondroitin found in cartilage may give people with osteoarthritis better range of movement, reduced pain and swelling and greater ease of ambulation. It may also prove beneficial to slowing down the progression of osteoarthritis. However, the University of Michigan Health System indicates that when used for this purpose, evidence is either contradictory or insufficient to demonstrate that shark cartilage yields a distinct benefit.
Cancer
Theoretically, shark cartilage may inhibit the growth of blood vessels, as cartilage is a type of tissue where no blood vessels are present. In test tube studies, shark cartilage demonstrated positive benefits when applied directly to tumors. However, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center indicates that when taken by mouth as an oral supplement, shark cartilage had no effect on tumors in animal studies or humans. The center indicates that shark cartilage supplements do not treat cancer.
Psoriasis
There is some evidence to support shark cartilage as a way to reduce inflammation associated with psoriasis, a disorder of the skin that presents as scaly, raised patches on the scalp and other parts of the body, according to the UMMC.
Cautions
There is no reliable scientific evidence to indicate that shark cartilage is beneficial for other purposes, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, which goes on to state that the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has funded clinical studies of purified shark cartilage extract not available to consumers to study its effect on cancer. Shark cartilage is classified as a dietary supplement by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, so its efficacy and safety cannot be assured. Please talk to your doctor before using shark cartilage or another dietary supplement to address your health concerns.
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