Shark cartilage
Scientific names: Squalus acanthias, Sphyrna lewini
Alternative names: AE-941, Cartilage de Requin, Cartilage de Requin du Pacifique, Cartilago de Tiburon, Collagène Marin, Extrait de Cartilage de Requin, Liquide de Cartilage Marin, Marine Collagen, Marine Liquid Cartilage, MSI-1256F, Neovastat, Pacific Shark Cartilage, Poudre de Cartilage de Requin, Shark Cartilage Extract, Shark Cartilage Powder
Actions: Antiangiogenic, Antiarthritic, Anticancer, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Fibrinolytic, Immune stimulation, Media supplement
Background
Shark cartilage is the tissue that provides support for fins in sharks (Squalus acanthias). It mainly comes from sharks caught in the Pacific Ocean.
Shark cartilage became a popular medicine in the 1970s. But its popularity led to a decline in shark numbers. It was previously suggested that sharks don't get cancer, so consuming their cartilage might help prevent cancer in humans. But it is now clear that sharks do get cancer, and research hasn't shown benefits for cancer in humans.
People use shark cartilage for cancer, scaly itchy skin (psoriasis), osteoarthritis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence supporting these uses.
Don't confuse shark cartilage with bovine cartilage, or with chondroitin, which can be sourced from shark cartilage.
Shark cartilage became a popular medicine in the 1970s. But its popularity led to a decline in shark numbers. It was previously suggested that sharks don't get cancer, so consuming their cartilage might help prevent cancer in humans. But it is now clear that sharks do get cancer, and research hasn't shown benefits for cancer in humans.
People use shark cartilage for cancer, scaly itchy skin (psoriasis), osteoarthritis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence supporting these uses.
Don't confuse shark cartilage with bovine cartilage, or with chondroitin, which can be sourced from shark cartilage.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Shark cartilage is possibly safe when used for up to 40 months. It can cause a bad taste in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, and constipation.
When applied to the skin: Shark cartilage is possibly safe when used for up to 8 weeks.
"Autoimmune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Shark cartilage might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of autoimmune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using shark cartilage.
High calcium levels (hypercalcemia): Shark cartilage contains calcium and might increase calcium levels. Do not use shark cartilage if you already have high calcium levels.
When applied to the skin: Shark cartilage is possibly safe when used for up to 8 weeks.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if shark cartilage is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use."Autoimmune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Shark cartilage might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of autoimmune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using shark cartilage.
High calcium levels (hypercalcemia): Shark cartilage contains calcium and might increase calcium levels. Do not use shark cartilage if you already have high calcium levels.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Likely ineffective Effectiveness definitions
- Cancer. Taking shark cartilage by mouth does not benefit people with advanced, previously treated cancers, including breast, colon, lung, prostate, and brain cancer.
Dosing & administration
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of shark cartilage might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Shark cartilage can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking shark cartilage along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Calcium: Shark cartilage contains calcium and might raise calcium levels. Using it along with calcium supplements might make calcium levels too high.
Interactions with foods
Acidic fruit juices such as orange, apple, grape, or tomato, can lower the strength of shark cartilage. If shark cartilage is added to a fruit juice to improve flavor, it should be consumed right away.
Products
View all products
$52.00
Create account
Per bar (Cashew Shortbread):
- Bovine collagen peptides
- Anacardium occidentale (Cashew nut)
- Tapioca
- Maple syrup
- Medium Chain Triglycerides (powder) (MCT)
- Acacia sp. (fibre)
- Myrciaria dubia (fruit) powder (Camu Camu)
- Siraitia grosvenorii (Monk fruit)
- Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla bean extract)
12 bars Cashew Shortbread
$54.95
Create account
Per sachet (Salty Citrus):
- Australian lake salt
- Magnesium gluconate
- Potassium chloride
- Orthosilicic acid (Silica)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Natural citrus flavour
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Tartaric acid anhydrous
30 sachets Salty Citrus
$68.90
Create account
RRP: $14.95$13.45Save: 10%
Create account
$24.95
Create account
Per 5 g:
- Camellia sinensis
- Maple sugar
- Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla bean)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
$65.00
Create account
Per capsule:
- Biotin 150 μg
- Choline bitartrate 486.26 mg equiv. choline 200 mg
- Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) 12.5 μg equiv. vitamin D 500 IU
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 250 μg
- Ubidecarenone (Coenzyme Q10) 30 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 27.29 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 25 mg
- Chromium picolinate 201.1 μg equiv. chromium 25 μg
- Dunaliella salina cell powder (Green micro-algae) 30 mg equiv. beta-carotene 3 mg
- Levomefolate calcium (Activated folate) 271 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 250 μg
- Manganese sulphate monohydrate 3.07 mg equiv. manganese 1 mg
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2) 30 μg
- Molybdenum trioxide 375 μg equiv. molybdenum 25 μg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 20 mg
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1) 45 μg
- Potassium iodide 176.6 μg equiv. iodine 135 μg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 31.35 mg equiv. pyridoxine 20 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 13.16 mg equiv. riboflavin 10 mg
- Selenomethionine 124.2 μg equiv. selenium 50 μg
- Thiamine nitrate (Vitamin B1) 12.34 mg equiv. thiamine 10 mg
- Zinc glycinate 40.82 mg equiv. zinc 12.5 mg
RRP: $55.00$49.50Save: 10%
Create account
$64.56
Create account
.png "<img src='https://images.vital.ly/tr:w-350,c-at_max,dpr-2,q-100/Amelia_V-Spot_Probiotic_20_Pessaries__(1).png' />")
$69.95
Create account
RRP: $37.95$36.06Save: 5%
Create account
RRP: $10.95$9.43Save: 14%
OOS at supplier
Create account
return unknown
Per 10 g (Organic Miso):
- Beef bones
- Sea salt
- Fermented soybean paste (Miso)
- Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
390 g Organic Miso
RRP: $33.99$28.89Save: 15%
Create account
$18.00
OOS at supplier
Create account
return unknown
RRP: $53.95$37.77Save: 30%
Currently unavailable at vital.ly
Create account
RRP: $26.95$18.87Save: 30%
Discontinued by Vanilla Mozi
Create account
RRP: $63.00$47.25Save: 25%
Create account
RRP: $54.40$40.80Save: 25%
Create account
RRP: $82.50$57.75Save: 30%
Create account
Per 10 g (Berry):
- Acacia sp. (gum) 2.5 g
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar gum) 2 g
- Green banana starch 1.5 g
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 5 billion CFU equiv. inactive (zinc powder) 24 mg
- L-glutamine 1.9 g
- Althaea officinalis ext. 500 mg
- Cinnamon zeylanicum powder 400 mg
- Protease
- Amylase enzyme
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Lactase
- Berry flavour
- Bacillus coagulans 2 billion CFU
- Aloe barbadensis ext. 100 mg
- Punica granatum ext. 100 mg
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Malpighia glabra powder 50 mg
- Stevia rebaubiana powder 50 mg
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot) 33 mg
RRP: $69.95$62.96Save: 10%
Create account
vital.ly has licensed monographs from TRC Healthcare.
This monograph was last reviewed on 24/03/2025 11:00:00 and last updated on 16/09/2014 21:29:37. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
Natural Medicines disclaims any responsibility related to medical consequences of using any medical product. Effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this monograph is accurate at the time it was published. Consumers and medical professionals who consult this monograph are cautioned that any medical or product related decision is the sole responsibility of the consumer and/or the health care professional. A legal License Agreement sets limitations on downloading, storing, or printing content from this Database. No reproduction of this monograph or any content from this Database is permitted without written permission from the publisher. It is unlawful to download, store, or distribute content from this site.
Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
