Millions of people consume shark fin soup each year. In much of Asia, it is considered a powerful source of nutrition as well as an aphrodisiac. But the practice of eating this food has come under scrutiny with a rapid decline in shark populations around the world. What is the evidence for this purported aphrodisiac? Aphrodisiology does some digging.

Scientific Evidence

While there is good scientific evidence for aphrodisiacs like Ginseng and Epimedium, a search of the literature reveals no research on libido boosting abilities of shark fin soup. None. Further research indicates that shark does have some interesting nutritional properties, but these are not unique to shark, and would only have an indirect effect on the love making energies of the body.

Cartilage is a main ingredient of processed shark fin used in soups (the skin is removed, and the remaining tissue is soaked and dried). Cartilage in the diet can provide nutritional support for people with arthritis and other conditions - but there is no evidence that shark cartilage is any better than cartilage from other sources (like chicken or beef). Cartilage is metabolized to compounds like glucosamine, which can have beneficial effects on the joints and the immune system, but again, there are other sources of glucosamine. Most commercial glucosamine is produced from shrimp shells.

Omega-3 oils are another component of shark which can improve neurotransmitter function. Ray Sahelian, M.D., believes that omega-3 oils like DHA can improve energy, focus, and libidio. But the omega-3 oils in shark are concentrated in the liver. Shark fin may contain a small amount of the beneficial oils, but processing reduces them to an even smaller amount, and it is unlikely that a bowl of soup would have enough to give a noticeable boost. Better sources of omega-3s include cod liver oil, grass fed beef, and for vegetarians, borage oil, evening primrose oil, and flax oil.

Squalene is an interesting nutrient, and shark is a rich source of squalene. It is an oily compound that is a building block used to make steroids. But again, most squalene is in the shark's liver. Very little squalene makes it into shark fin soup. Squalene is found in all animals, and there are several plant sources. Rice bran, wheat germ, and olives have significant amounts of squalene, and amaranth seed oil is particularly rich. Some preliminary research has shown that the squalene in amaranth oil can also reduce cholesterol and reduce high blood pressure. (PMID: 17207282) Amaranth grain is available in many health food stores, and the oil is available from some specialty food companies, including Nu World Amaranth and Bulk Oil.

All in all, there's no evidence that shark fin soup contains any particular ingredient that acts as an aphrodisiac. Shark fin has some beneficial nutrients, but these can be found in other sources without harming endangered species.

Personal Experience

In the past, I have eaten shark meat, fermented shark, and shark liver oil (but not shark fin soup). I don't recall any definite boost from these foods - certainly nothing like I have noticed from good ginseng or 5 milligrams of DHEA.

Psychology

Some argue that aphrodisiacs are primarily psychological, and that Sympathetic Magic is the mechanism at work - by eating the shark fin (or rhinoceros horn, or tiger bone), a human tries to conquer and harness the strength, ferocity or prowess of that animal. In the case of shark fin soup, the skeptics may be right. There is no direct evidence for any aphrodisiac effect from shark fins, and it is not apparent that they contain any chemical that would reasonably be expected to boost the libido.

Aphrodisiology's Bottom Line

Given the lack of scientific evidence and the fact that sharks have become endangered species in much of the world, I cannot recommend shark fin soup as an aphrodisiac. There are better choices for those that want results, and those other aphrodisiacs do not contribute so heavily to a disruption of our oceanic ecosystems and the possible extinction of yet another species. Perhaps someday, conservation effects will result in an increase in shark populations, and they can be fished in a controlled fashion like other fishes. Until that day arrives, there are many alternative aphrodisiacs to choose from.