Animal Placental Supplements

Comparing Sheep, Pig, Deer, Horse, and Human Placenta Supplements

Placental extracts have surged in popularity within the beauty and health industries, lauded for their purported regenerative and anti-aging properties. While human placenta consumption has its advocates, ethical concerns and safety issues have led to a rise in animal-derived placental supplements. Among the most commonly used are sheep, pig (porcine), deer, and horse placenta. This article provides a comprehensive comparison of these placental sources, exploring their biological composition, medical applications, safety, ethical considerations, and scientific backing, with a particular focus on why porcine placenta may be superior in many respects.

This article offers a comprehensive comparison of animal-derived placental supplements, focusing on sheep, pig (porcine), deer, and horse placenta. It explores their biological composition, medical applications, safety, ethical considerations, and scientific backing, emphasizing porcine placenta's potential superiority. Placental supplements, derived from the organ that nourishes a fetus during pregnancy, are rich in growth factors, hormones, and nutrients, and are believed to offer various health benefits, including skin rejuvenation, anti-aging effects, and immune support.

The article compares different placental sources, including human, sheep, horse, deer, and pig placenta, highlighting their pros and cons in terms of benefits, availability, safety, ethical concerns, and cost. Porcine placenta stands out due to its biological similarity to human placenta, affordability, and extensive research supporting its efficacy. The article also discusses medical applications, safety, ethical considerations, scientific backing, and cost considerations for each placental source.

 The conclusion emphasizes that porcine placenta is a superior choice due to its biological compatibility, extensive medical applications, strong scientific backing, safety, ethical sourcing, and affordability.

1. Understanding Placental Supplements

Placental supplements are derived from the placenta, an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy, providing oxygen and nutrients to the growing fetus and removing waste¹ products. Rich in growth factors, hormones, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, the placenta is believed to offer various health benefits, including:

• Skin Rejuvenation: Promoting collagen production, improving skin elasticity, and reducing wrinkles.
• Anti-aging: Combating oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, and supporting cellular repair.
• Energy and Vitality: Boosting energy levels, reducing fatigue, and enhancing overall well-being.
• Immune Support: Strengthening the immune system and improving resilience to diseases.
• Hormonal Balance: Regulating hormone levels and supporting reproductive health.
• Wound Healing: Accelerating tissue repair and promoting faster recovery from injuries.

2. Comparing Different Placental Sources

2.1 Human Placenta

Human placenta, sometimes used in postpartum recovery products, contains high levels of hormones (estrogen and progesterone), growth factors, and nutrients like iron and protein. Advocates claim it helps with hormonal balance, postpartum depression, and energy recovery (Johnson et al., 2018).

Table 1: Human Placenta - Pros and Cons

2.2 Sheep Placenta

Sheep placenta is popular in beauty and anti-aging products due to its rich content of growth factors, proteins, and amino acids, believed to improve skin health and elasticity (Yoshida et al., 2014).

Table 2: Sheep Placenta - Pros and Cons

2.3 Horse Placenta

Horse placenta is less common but marketed for sports recovery and beauty products. It contains growth factors believed to support cell regeneration and muscle recovery (Tatara, 2020).

Table 3: Horse Placenta - Pros and Cons

2.4 Deer Placenta

Deer placenta is prized in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for its high concentration of growth factors and association with longevity and vitality.

Table 4: Deer Placenta - Pros and Cons

2.5 Pig (Porcine) Placenta

Porcine placenta stands out due to its biological similarity to human placenta, affordability, and extensive research supporting its efficacy (Ryu et al., 2017).

Table 5: Pig Placenta - Pros and Cons

3. Medical Applications and Compatibility with Humans

• Human Placenta: Limited medical use beyond postpartum recovery due to ethical and safety concerns.
• Sheep Placenta: Primarily used in the beauty industry, with limited application in mainstream medicine.
• Horse Placenta: Limited medical use, primarily marketed for sports recovery.
• Deer Placenta: Used in TCM for various health benefits but limited use in Western medicine.
• Pig Placenta and Tissue: Extensively used in medical treatments, including xenotransplantation (e.g., porcine heart valves), due to physiological similarities to human tissues (BioMed Central, 2018). Porcine placental extracts are also used in pharmaceutical medications for their growth factors, hormones, and healing properties (Hong et al., 2010).

4. Safety and Ethical Considerations

• Human Placenta: Raises significant ethical concerns regarding consent and sourcing, along with potential safety risks.
• Sheep Placenta: Potential risks of contamination or disease transmission, particularly scrapie. Animal welfare concerns also arise (wikiplacenta, 2022).
• Horse Placenta: Ethical concerns regarding sourcing, as horses are not typically raised for meat.
• Deer Placenta: Ethical concerns, especially if sourced from wild deer.
• Pig Placenta: Generally considered safer due to existing use in medical and pharmaceutical industries under strict regulatory controls. The use of pigs in the food industry provides a more controlled source, reducing contamination risks. Pigs do not suffer from diseases like scrapie, making them a safer alternative (Gajraj et al., 2021).

5. Scientific Backing and Research

• Human Placenta: Limited research, primarily focused on postpartum recovery.
• Sheep Placenta: Substantial anecdotal evidence for beauty benefits, but scientific studies are limited, mostly focusing on anti-aging and antioxidant properties (wikiplacenta, 2022).
• Horse Placenta: Very limited scientific research.
• Deer Placenta: Some research in TCM, but limited scientific studies in Western medicine.
• Pig Placenta: Supported by a growing body of scientific research demonstrating anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects on skin and internal tissues (Ryu et al., 2017). Studies highlight its ability to promote cell proliferation and tissue repair by activating key metabolic pathways involved in human tissue regeneration (BioMed Central, 2018). Its anti-oxidative properties have been shown to reduce oxidative stress, contributing to healthy aging and skin rejuvenation (BioMed Central, 2018).

6. Ethical and Cost Considerations

• Human Placenta: Ethical concerns regarding sourcing and high cost due to limited availability.
• Sheep Placenta: Can be expensive due to smaller-scale production and ethical harvesting needs. Potential disease risks raise concerns about sourcing (wikiplacenta, 2022).
• Horse Placenta: Expensive due to limited availability and high extraction cost.
• Deer Placenta: Often expensive, considered a luxury item.
• Pig Placenta: Generally more affordable due to the larger availability of raw materials and the extensive use of pigs in various industries. Ethical sourcing is easier due to the established use of porcine tissues in medicine (BioMed Central, 2018).

7. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Perspective

• Deer Placenta: Highly valued in TCM for its potent ability to enhance vitality, support kidney health, and improve sexual function. Often recommended for individuals needing a strong life force boost.
• Pig Placenta: Seen as a gentler option in TCM, supporting overall nourishment and vitality. Used for restoration after childbirth or periods of stress.

8. Why Porcine Placenta May Be Superior

When comparing different placental sources, porcine placenta emerges as a superior choice due to its:

• Biological Compatibility: Similar nutrient and hormone profile to human placenta, enhancing its effectiveness.
• Extensive Medical Applications: Proven use in various medical treatments, demonstrating its safety and efficacy.
• Strong Scientific Backing: Supported by research highlighting its regenerative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative properties.
• Safety and Ethical Sourcing: Easier to source ethically and process safely under controlled conditions.
• Affordability: More readily available and less expensive than other options, particularly human, horse, and deer placenta.

9. Conclusion

While various animal placental extracts offer potential health benefits, porcine placenta stands out for its superior safety, effectiveness, affordability, and ethical sourcing. Its rich content of vital proteins, hyaluronic acid, collagen, and growth factors makes it ideal for promoting skin health, cellular repair, and overall vitality.

References:

1. BioMed Central. (2018). Topical anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of porcine placental extract on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced contact dermatitis. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 18(1), 1-10.
2. Gajraj, E., Austin, J. S., Reid, A., Mcfarlane, C. J., & McCoy, L. (2021). Mad Cow Disease in Cattle: A Review. West Indian Veterinary Journal, 21(1).
3. Hong, J. W., Lee, W. J., Hahn, S. B., Kim, B. J., & Lew, D. H. (2010). The effect of human placenta extract in a wound healing model. Annals of plastic surgery, 65(1),² 96-100.
4. Johnson, A., Belkin, A., Brown, E., & DuComb, C. (2018). The Complete Guide to Human Placenta Encapsulation. Journal of Midwifery, 24(2), 112-125.
5. Miki, T. (2011). Stem cell characteristics and the therapeutic potential of placental stem cells. Stem Cells International, 2011.
6. Nakayama, H., Enosawa, S., Ueno, K., Urushihara, S., Kadota, E., & Suzuki, S. (2004). Effects of bovine placental extract on cartilage metabolism in rabbits with surgically induced osteoarthritis. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 27(9), 1438-1443.
7. Ryu, E. K., Kim, J. A., Kim, S. Y., Lee, H. N., Kang, S. H., Lee, S. J., ... & Park, G. (2017). Improvement of skin wrinkles, dryness, and elasticity in UVB-irradiated hairless mice by porcine placental extract. European Food Research and Technology, 243, 179-189.
8. Sulaiman, S., Zulkifli, R. M., Abdul Rahman, N., Bahari, H., & Mohd Nor, N. H. (2019). Bovine amniotic membrane: A review on the potential as a scaffold in wound healing. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 30(17), 1577-1594.
9. Tatara, M. R. (2020). Chemical composition of equine placenta and its effects on the reproductive performance of sows and on the growth of their offspring after weaning. Animals, 10(11), 2018.
10. (2022). Sheep, Deer, Pig And Horse Placenta: What Are Their Differences? Retrieved from https://www.wikiplacenta.com/?p=323
11. Yoshida, T., Tabata, T., Suzuki, N., Wagatsuma, R., & Yagami, K. (2014). Beneficial effects of dietary supplementation with porcine placenta extract on the impairment of skin barrier function in UV-irradiated hairless mice. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry, 78(4), 578-585.