Bovine Cartilage

Purported Benefits, Side Effects & More
Share
This information describes the common uses of Bovine Cartilage, how it works, and its possible side effects.
Tell your healthcare providers about any dietary supplements you’re taking, such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and natural or home remedies. This will help them manage your care and keep you safe.

What is it?

Evidence is lacking to support the use of bovine cartilage to treat cancer or AIDS.

The use of cartilage products for treating cancer partially stems from the theory that since cartilage does not contain blood vessels, it must contain substances that would prevent the growth of blood vessels around tumors, a process known as angiogenesis. Catrix®, a bovine cartilage product, was used in a lab experiment against isolated samples of several cancer cell lines, with positive results at high doses. However, there is still little evidence that these effects can occur in the human body.

Because bovine cartilage supplements may contain the same specialized proteins that make up human cartilage, they might assist with the resynthesis of cartilage in people with osteoarthritis. It has also been suggested that bovine cartilage may enhance immune response, but this effect has not been shown in humans.

Bovine cartilage should not be confused with shark cartilage.

What are the potential uses and benefits?

  • To reduce swelling from arthritis
    Evidence is lacking to support this claim.
  • To prevent or treat cancer
    Small studies suggest that bovine cartilage may have anticancer effects, but larger studies have not been conducted.
  • To treat AIDS
    Evidence is lacking to support this claim.
  • To stimulate the immune system
    Evidence is lacking to support this claim.

What are the side effects?

  • Altered sense of taste
  • Fatigue
  • Upset stomach
  • Fever
  • Dizziness
  • Swelling of the scrotum
  • When injected, swelling and redness at the injection site
If you have questions or concerns, contact your healthcare provider. A member of your care team will answer Monday through Friday from to Outside those hours, you can leave a message or talk with another MSK provider. There is always a doctor or nurse on call. If you’re not sure how to reach your healthcare provider, call 212-639-2000.
If you have questions or concerns, contact your healthcare provider. A member of your care team will answer Monday through Friday from to Outside those hours, you can leave a message or talk with another MSK provider. There is always a doctor or nurse on call. If you’re not sure how to reach your healthcare provider, call 212-639-2000.

For more resources, visit www.mskcc.org/pe to search our virtual library.

Bovine Cartilage - Last updated on March 23, 2022
All rights owned and reserved by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center