If you have a low platelet count, medically termed thrombocytopenia, you can experience excessive bleeding either when you injure yourself or from unknown causes. Platelets, small blood cell fragments, help your blood clot. Numerous disorders can affect your platelet count. Some alternative practitioners say shark liver oil -- not shark cartilage -- sold as an over-the-counter supplement might help increase platelet counts, but this has not been clinically proven effective. Ask your doctor before taking shark cartilage or shark liver oil supplements if you have low platelets, and don't substitute shark cartilage for prescription medications.
Low Platelet Issues
You normally have between 150,000 to 450,000 platelet cells per microliter of circulating blood; any less than that classifies as a low platelet count. Platelet count can drop for one of three reasons: Your body makes too few platelets, destroys too many platelets or stores too many platelets in the spleen. Blood disorders such as leukemia can decrease the number of platelets you make by crowding out normal cell production. You destroy platelets more quickly than normal when you're pregnant, with certain bacterial infections and when your immune system mistakenly sees the cells as foreign bodies. Certain drugs can also increase platelet destruction. Symptoms include easy bruising, excessive bleeding or spontaneous bleeding in the urine or stools.
Shark Cartilage and Blood Clotting
A Canadian study reported in the 2005 "Thrombosis Research" looked at the effects of shark cartilage extract on blood clotting in laboratory cells. Researchers found that shark cartilage extract interferes with formation of fibrin, a type of molecule that, along with platelets, forms the blood clots that stop excessive bleeding.
Shark Cartilage Effects on Platelets
Shark cartilage has no proven benefit on platelets. It may have some effect on fibrin formation, but fibrin and platelets are not the same thing and have different actions. Some alternative practitioners use shark cartilage to treat or prevent cancer, which can cause low platelets in some cases. Research does not support the benefit of using shark cartilage to treat cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
Considerations
Shark liver oil, not shark cartilage, is sold as a possible aid to platelet production, according to the Life Extension website. Taking drugs that could increase your platelets -- or any drugs or supplements -- without medical supervision could have serious side effects, increasing your risk of your blood clotting too much.
References
- Kimball's Biology Pages: Blood Clotting
- Thrombosis Research: Direct-Acting Fibrinolytic Enzymes in Shark Cartilage Extract: Potential Therapeutic Role in Vascular Disorders
- MayoClinic.com: Thrombocytopenia (Low Platelet Count)
- Life Extension: Cancer Chemotherapy
- American Cancer Society: Shark Cartilage
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