Based on the belief that sharks are immune to cancer and that shark cartilage contains a substance which suppresses the growth of new blood vessels, shark cartilage began to be promoted as having the ability to control cancer. But when clinical testing failed to substantiate such claims, shark cartilage began to be marketed as being effective for improving the health of joints.
例如，基於相信鯊魚不長癌、軟骨內含有抑制血管生成物質等因素，「鯊魚軟骨」早期標榜能抗癌，但臨床實驗結果卻證實效果不佳，近年轉而訴求保健關節功效。