The following article will give you an insight of the connection between shark cartilage and cancer cure. Continue reading to know whether shark cartilages can really cure cancer, or is it just a myth...
On an average, a hundred million sharks are killed by humans every year. Among the major factors which contribute to this large scale hunting of shark species, the two most prominent ones include its popularity as seafood and the alleged health benefits associated with the various organs of this fish. When we talk about these alleged health benefits, we can't ignore the myth surrounding shark cartilage and cancer cure. Even though there is no scientific evidence to prove that the products made from shark cartilage help in curing cancer, excessive hunting of sharks for these cartilages continues on a rampant scale.
Shark Cartilage and Cancer Cure
In several animals, including human beings, cartilage is a type of connective tissue which forms an important constituent of the skeletal system. In cartilaginous fish species, like sharks, the entire skeleton is made of this connective tissue. The major components of shark cartilage include proteoglycans, glycoproteins, protein and calcium salts. Even though bovine cartilage (the cartilage of cows) is also assumed to be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of ailments such as cancer and osteoarthritis, the fact that the entire skeleton of shark is made of cartilage makes this creature more vulnerable to human onslaught. Sharks are hunted excessively for these cartilages, which were eventually crushed into fine powder and administered to patients through various methods. The belief that powdered shark cartilage strengthens the immune system and kills cancerous cells in the body is based on the results of various studies which were carried out in 1970s and 80s. The use of shark cartilage for cancer treatment can be attributed to the myth that sharks are immune to this ailment. In the 1970s, a study revealed that the shark cartilage contains a substance that blocks the formation of new blood vessels. Researchers believed that curbing the formation of new blood vessels would curb its eventual growth into a tumor, and thus help in cancer treatment. Even though the studies carried out on animals yielded satisfactory results, the same in humans were disappointing. By then, the false claims pertaining to the effectiveness of shark cartilages for cancer treatment had spread considerably.
Can Shark Cartilage Cure Cancer?
Eventually studies revealed that sharks are also vulnerable to diseases, like cancer, and other parasitic infections. This very fact about sharks questions the credibility of the use of shark cartilages for cancer treatment. As of now several attempts have been made to prove that shark cartilage products are effective in treatment of cancer, however, none of the clinical trials have yielded any positive results so far. A study published in the July 2005 issue of renowned journal 'Cancer' dismissed the claims of shark cartilage for effective cancer treatment as mere myths. On the contrary, several shark cartilage products are known to result in side effects, ranging from mild to severe. At the end of the day use of alternative medicine, such as shark cartilage products, is not recommended for the treatment of life threatening ailments, such as cancer, as there is no evidence to suggest that these claims really hold ground.
Recent studies suggest that shark cartilage and cancer cure have no relationship whatsoever. Even though there is no scientific evidence to support the link between shark cartilage and cancer, information provided in the form of statistical data reveals that the multi-million dollar shark cartilage industry is by and large dependent on over the counter shark cartilage products. This large scale hunting of sharks as a food source and for the alleged medical benefits of shark cartilage has left this species severely endangered. The failure of the administration to curb illegal hunting cannot be denied, but people who buy these cartilage products are also responsible for the the incessant rise in shark killing, owing to which the list of endangered sharks continues to grow today.
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