Efficacy of velvet antler peptides in anti-aging: a narrative review

Deer antler velvet has a long history of medicinal use in China, renowned for its rich therapeutic valuewhich. A large number of peptides, amino acids, and other components found in deer antler velvet have been widely studied. Aging has long been considered a pathological process that predisposes individuals to various diseases, leading to the emergence of the term “age-related disease”. There are several shared mechanisms between aging and the pathogenesis of these diseases, including stress adaptation, loss of protein balance, stem cell depletion, metabolic disorders, macromolecular damage, epigenetic modifications, and inflammatory responses. As the human body ages, the accumulation of molecular, cellular and organ damage can lead to a range of diseases, such as cardiovascular, metabolic, and nervous system diseases. With the growing older population, the challenges posed by aging have become increasingly severe, highlighting the urgent need to discover substances that can effectively delay or even treat aging-related diseases. The potential of velvet antler peptides in this area remains largely unexplored. Velvet antler peptides exhibit various pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidation, anti-aging, neuroprotection, anti-tumor activity, and treatment for osteoporosis, arthritis, and ovarian aging. This review article focuses on the pharmacological activity of velvet antler peptides in combating aging-related diseases, aiming to provide insights for future pharmacological research and product development. Furthermore, the clinical significance of velvet antler peptides is emphasized, particularly their potential to improve the quality of life and extend the healthy lifespan of the older adults. In conclusion, as a natural candidate for anti-aging interventions, velvet antler peptides hold great promise in clinical application and may offer new strategies for delaying aging and treating aging-related diseases.