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By Dr.Kristie Leong M.D.
A popular book entitled Sharks Don’t Get Cancer first popularized the use of shark cartilage as an alternative treatment for cancer. Although taking shark cartilage to treat cancer has always been unproven, there is some limited evidence that it slows down the growth of new blood vessels that supplies nutrients and oxygen to growing cancer cells in the laboratory. Unfortunately, what holds true in the laboratory doesn’t always apply to to humans Now, a well designed study shows that taking shark cartilage for treatment of cancer doesn’t offer any benefits.
Shark Cartilage for Cancer: What a New Study Shows
In a rigorously designed study, researchers recruited almost 400 patients with advanced small cell lung cancer. Half of the recruits were given shark cartilage in a standardized formulation along with chemotherapy and radiation. The other half received chemotherapy and radiation - but no shark cartilage. Because many shark cartilage supplements on the market contain substandard quality and quantities of shark cartilage, a pharmaceutical company created a shark cartilage “drug” to ensure that each patient got a standardized amount.
The results? The patients who received shark cartilage along with chemotherapy and radiation died, on average, a month sooner than those who got standard treatment. Taking shark cartilage for cancer, at least in these patients, didn’t have any benefits in terms of survival - and the tumors showed no response to the shark cartilage treatment.
Other smaller studies including one sponsored by the National Cancer Institute failed to show that taking shark cartilage for cancer is of benefit. Taking shark cartilage is also not side effect free. Some people using it have reported nausea, bloating, and abdominal cramping.
The whole premise behind this book - the idea that sharks don’t get cancer, has been called into question. It’s now known that they do get cancer, but they’re probably more resistant to it than humans are.
Taking Shark Cartilage for Treatment of Cancer: The Bottom Line
This well designed, rigorously conducted study is in line with previous studies that show that shark cartilage is ineffective for treating cancer. This should put to rest any idea that shark cartilage is good medicine for cancer.
References:
Medscape.com. "Study: Shark Cartilage No Help for Cancer"
In a rigorously designed study, researchers recruited almost 400 patients with advanced small cell lung cancer. Half of the recruits were given shark cartilage in a standardized formulation along with chemotherapy and radiation. The other half received chemotherapy and radiation - but no shark cartilage. Because many shark cartilage supplements on the market contain substandard quality and quantities of shark cartilage, a pharmaceutical company created a shark cartilage “drug” to ensure that each patient got a standardized amount.
The results? The patients who received shark cartilage along with chemotherapy and radiation died, on average, a month sooner than those who got standard treatment. Taking shark cartilage for cancer, at least in these patients, didn’t have any benefits in terms of survival - and the tumors showed no response to the shark cartilage treatment.
Other smaller studies including one sponsored by the National Cancer Institute failed to show that taking shark cartilage for cancer is of benefit. Taking shark cartilage is also not side effect free. Some people using it have reported nausea, bloating, and abdominal cramping.
The whole premise behind this book - the idea that sharks don’t get cancer, has been called into question. It’s now known that they do get cancer, but they’re probably more resistant to it than humans are.
Taking Shark Cartilage for Treatment of Cancer: The Bottom Line
This well designed, rigorously conducted study is in line with previous studies that show that shark cartilage is ineffective for treating cancer. This should put to rest any idea that shark cartilage is good medicine for cancer.
References:
Medscape.com. "Study: Shark Cartilage No Help for Cancer"
