Definition
A dietary supplement derived from cartilage obtained from sharks, commonly hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) and dogfish (Squalus acanthias) sharks.
Characteristics
Shark cartilage is a popular dietary supplement that traditionally has been proclaimed to be able to prevent and/or treat established cancer. In the early part of the twenty-first century, it has been one of the ten most common dietary supplements used among cancer patients. It has been suggested that the widespread popularity of this product has partly contributed to an increase in shark fishing, with a resultant sharp, ≥75%, decline in the world shark population in the past 15 years.
Shark cartilage is available as a capsule (taken orally), powder (for oral use when mixed with juice or as an enema), and also as an intravenous preparation. The recommended doses can vary from 500 mg to several grams per day. The adverse effects are predominantly gastrointestinal, such as nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, and even...
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References
http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cartilage-pdq
http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm195635.htm
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Loprinzi CL, Levitt R, Barton DL, North Central Cancer Treatment Group et al (2005) Evaluation of shark cartilage in patients with advanced cancer: a North Central Cancer Treatment Group trial. Cancer 104(1):176–182
Miller DR, Anderson GT, Stark JJ et al (1998) Phase I/II trial of the safety and efficacy of shark cartilage in the treatment of advanced cancer. J Clin Oncol 16:3649–3655
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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
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Bardia, A., Loprinzi, C.L. (2015). Shark Cartilage. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-46875-3_5283
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-46875-3_5283
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-46874-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-46875-3
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