Shark Cartilage Description

Shark Cartilage - Cartilage tissue has been investigated as a treatment for cancer, psoriasis, arthritis, and a number of other medical conditions. Most notably, the tested cartilage material has come from cows and sharks. At least some of the interest in cartilage as a cancer treatment arose from the mistaken belief that sharks are made primarily of cartilage and were not affected by the disease. In fact, malignant cancer does occur in sharks. Still, anti-tumor activity has been detected in the cartilage of both sharks and cows. The major structural components of cartilage include several types of protein collagen and glycosaminoglycans, or polysaccharides. Since some glycosaminoglycans in cartilage tissue seem to have anti-inflammatory and immune system stimulating properties, it has been suggested that they may assist in the breakdown of tumor cells. Thus, the anti-tumor potential of cartilage treatments may involve more than one mechanism of action. Cartilage products are generally in pill form and are sold commercially in the US as dietary supplements under more than 40 different brand names.