An 18-month-long ground breaking clinical study investigating the health benefits of Pāmu Deer Milk shows it improves muscle mass and bone density in older adults. Pāmu Deer Milk is the only deer milk product to be backed by a clinical study.
Pāmu has been pursuing deer milk as a viable dairy product for many years and deer business lead Hamish Glendinning said scientifically proving the nutritional benefits was vital when building market demand for New Zealand deer milk.
The clinical study was set up in conjunction with Massey University in June 2021.
Research has shown that people lose muscle mass and bone density as they age, which can lead to increased risk of falls and fractures, especially women after menopause when the bones lose calcium and other minerals.
Lead researchers Professor Marlena Kruger and Professor Pamela von Hurst say, “The study showed that Pāmu Deer Milk improved nutritional status, muscle mass and physical performance in women aged 65 and above. Further observations were that Pāmu Deer Milk may support bone health in postmenopausal women, by reducing bone breakdown and bone loss over time."
Pāmu Deer Milk is a unique natural source of concentrated nutrition. It has significantly higher protein and calcium content compared with other milk products and contains vitamins and minerals that support skeletal and immune health, with additional minor components possessing anti-inflammatory effects.
Clinical trial participant Antoinette van Zyl from Orewa, Auckland, has continued to drink Pāmu Deer Milk since the trial ended. She has noticed a vast improvement in her strength and mobility, which has played a major part in her recovery from a fall a few years ago.
“It has made a considerable difference to my life. Overall, I feel more vital and have more strength and energy to make the most of life. Interestingly, my friends and family often comment on my glowing skin. I drink it around three times a week now, which is more than enough for my needs given it's so nourishing,” she says.
Ninety per cent of the trial participants said they would recommend Pāmu Deer Milk to friends and family.
Pāmu Deer Milk Business Lead Hamish Glendinning says he sees enormous potential for the product to carve out a defendable position in the aged nutrition space with a natural and unique product offering, at the same time offering increased returns to deer farming in New Zealand.
“Whilst most of our product is purchased for growing kids aged above 1 year, given the rapidly ageing population and the health challenges which come with this, we are confident there will be increased demand for clinically proven, natural product solutions. This is an exciting innovation, a natural product with concentrated nutrition that we believe will make a difference to those who are wanting to restore mobility and strength as they get older.”