What Is Sheep Placenta? A Guide to Its Origins, Components and Research

If you are interested in beauty and wellness, you may have come across the word “placenta” before.

Placenta-derived ingredients are used in a wide range of products, including cosmetics, beauty drinks and supplements. Depending on the source, animal-derived placenta may come from pigs, horses or sheep.

One of these is sheep placenta.

Sheep placenta refers to placenta-derived material processed from sheep placenta. Supplements containing sheep-derived placenta ingredients are sold in countries such as New Zealand and Australia.

To better understand placenta, it is useful to look not only at the differences between sheep, pig and horse sources, but also at what the placenta itself is and which components have been studied.

It is also important to understand that although the same word “placenta” is used, placenta preparations used in medicine and placenta supplements sold as foods have different classifications and purposes.

In this article, we explain what sheep placenta is, the characteristics of sheep-, pig- and horse-derived placenta, components such as amino acids and peptides found in placenta-derived materials, current areas of research, and basic information about sheep placenta supplements.

What is sheep placenta?

The word placenta refers to the temporary organ that develops during pregnancy.

The placenta plays an important role in the exchange of oxygen and nutrients between the mother and the developing baby.

In health foods and cosmetics, the term “placenta” generally refers to ingredients that have been processed or extracted from placental tissue.

Common animal-derived placenta sources include:

• Pig placenta
• Horse placenta
• Sheep placenta

Sheep placenta is made from placenta derived from sheep.

New Zealand and sheep placenta

New Zealand is well known for sheep farming.

Sheep are raised extensively across the country, and a variety of sheep-derived materials are used in food, wellness and related industries.

Sheep placenta is one such material, and supplements containing sheep-derived placenta ingredients are sold in New Zealand.

Pig-derived placenta is more commonly encountered in Japan, so some people may be discovering sheep placenta for the first time.

There are different types of sheep placenta products

Even among sheep placenta products, the ingredients, formulation and manufacturing methods can vary from product to product.

Some products contain sheep placenta alone, while others combine it with plant-derived ingredients or other components.

In other words, products sold under the general name “sheep placenta” can have different individual characteristics.

What components are found in placenta?

The placenta is a highly complex organ that connects the mother and the developing baby during pregnancy and supports the exchange of oxygen and nutrients.

For this reason, various components of placenta-derived materials, including proteins, peptides and amino acids, have been analysed and studied.

The types and amounts of individual components can vary depending on the animal source and processing method, but one group frequently discussed in relation to placenta is amino acids.

What are amino acids?

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins in the human body.

Proteins are found throughout the body and are components of muscles, skin, hair, nails and many other tissues.

These proteins are made by linking amino acids together in many different sequences and combinations.

Many amino acids exist in nature, but 20 principal amino acids are used to build proteins in the human body.

By arranging these 20 amino acids in different sequences and combinations, the body can form a very large variety of proteins.

Essential and non-essential amino acids

Amino acids used by the body can broadly be divided into essential amino acids and non-essential amino acids.

Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body in sufficient amounts and therefore need to be obtained from the diet.

For adults, the following nine are generally classified as essential amino acids:

• Histidine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Phenylalanine
• Threonine
• Tryptophan
• Valine

Amino acids that the body can synthesise are generally referred to as non-essential amino acids.

The term “non-essential” does not mean that these amino acids are unnecessary.

They are also important components used in the formation of proteins and other processes in the body.

Dietary protein is broken down into amino acids and peptides

We obtain protein through our everyday diet.

When we eat protein-containing foods such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy products and soy foods, proteins are broken down during digestion into smaller peptides and amino acids that can then be used by the body.

They may subsequently be used as building materials for new proteins according to the body's needs.

Amino acids are therefore not simply specialised beauty ingredients; they are fundamental components closely connected with the proteins that make up the human body.

Placenta and amino acids

Amino acids, peptides and other components have also been analysed in placenta-derived materials.

Because the placenta is naturally a complex biological tissue, it consists of many different components rather than a single substance.

Research into placenta therefore examines it from multiple perspectives, including its amino acids, proteins and peptides.

One reason placenta-derived materials have attracted long-term interest in beauty and wellness research is their complex composition containing a variety of biological components.

What are peptides?

When reading about placenta, you may also encounter the word “peptide”.

A peptide is a substance made up of multiple amino acids linked together.

When larger numbers of amino acids are linked together, they can form various proteins.

A simple way to visualise the relationship is:

Amino acids
↓
Peptides
↓
Proteins

Peptides found in placenta-derived materials are also an area of ongoing research.

What are growth factors?

When researching placenta, you may also come across the term growth factors.

Growth factors are a broad group of proteins involved in communication between cells and are widely studied in medicine and the life sciences.

Because the placenta itself is a complex organ formed during pregnancy, its proteins, peptides and other components have been investigated from a variety of scientific perspectives.

Placenta is not a single-component material. It has been studied as a complex placenta-derived material containing proteins, peptides, amino acids and other components.

How do sheep, pig and horse placenta differ?

Animal-derived placenta products may use placenta from sheep, pigs, horses and other animals.

Although all of these materials originate from placenta, they are sourced from different animals and are therefore used as different types of placenta-derived ingredients.

Pig placenta

Pig-derived placenta is one of the better-known types of animal placenta in Japan.

It is used in a wide range of products, including health foods, beauty drinks and cosmetics, so many people in Japan may associate the word “placenta” with pig-derived products.

A variety of manufacturers in Japan sell products containing pig-derived placenta.

Horse placenta

Horse-derived placenta is also used in health foods and cosmetics.

Although there are fewer horse placenta products than pig-derived products, some products specifically highlight horse placenta as their source material.

Sheep placenta

Sheep placenta is derived from the placenta of sheep.

Although it is less widely known in Japan than pig placenta, sheep placenta supplements are sold in sheep-farming countries such as New Zealand and Australia.

The placenta product offered by Brilliant Life Products NZ is also made with sheep-derived placenta.

The source animal is one of the characteristics of placenta products

Pig, horse and sheep placenta are all animal-derived placenta materials, but because they come from different animals, individual products can have different characteristics.

Even products derived from the same animal can differ in processing methods and formulation.

When learning about placenta, looking at which animal the placenta is derived from can help you better understand the characteristics of different products.

What is being studied about placenta?

Placenta has long been studied as a material of interest in beauty, wellness and related fields.

Research has examined placenta from a variety of sources, including human, pig and sheep placenta, ranging from analysis of placental tissue itself to studies of processed placenta-derived materials.

Research into components of placenta-derived materials

Because the placenta is a highly complex tissue, researchers have analysed a wide range of components, including proteins, peptides and amino acids.

Advances in analytical technology have also enabled more detailed research into which components are present in placenta-derived materials and how processing or digestion may change them.

Research related to beauty and skin

Placenta extracts have also been studied in research related to beauty and skin condition.

Human studies involving materials such as pig-derived placenta extract have been reported, and research into placenta-derived materials continues from a variety of perspectives.

Research related to women's health

Placenta has also been investigated in areas related to women's health.

In Japan in particular, human placenta-derived preparations have a history of medical use, and placenta has been studied in medical and scientific fields for many years.

Research reports continue to be published in Japan and internationally, and placenta remains a material of ongoing interest in beauty, wellness and related research fields.

Research into sheep-derived placenta

Sheep placenta has also been studied, including research focusing on placenta-derived proteins and peptides.

More recent analytical techniques have made it possible to investigate components in sheep placenta-derived materials in greater detail, including changes in peptides during digestion.

Rather than being a material for which everything is already fully understood, placenta remains an area in which research continues to develop from many different perspectives.

The difference between placenta injections and supplements

When researching placenta, you may come across not only health foods but also the term “placenta injection” used in medical settings.

In Japan, medical injectable preparations containing human placenta extract are used.

Sheep placenta supplements, on the other hand, are foods made using sheep-derived placenta ingredients.

Although both use the word “placenta”, their source materials, methods of use and legal classifications are different.

Medical placenta preparations are medicines

Japan has approved injectable human placenta extract preparations that are used as prescription medicines under medical supervision.

Approved products include preparations used for menopausal disorders and insufficient lactation, as well as preparations used for the improvement of liver function in chronic liver disease.

These are human placenta-derived injectable medicines approved for specific medical uses.

Sheep placenta supplements are foods

Sheep placenta supplements are health foods made using sheep-derived placenta ingredients.

Unlike medical human placenta extract injections, they are sold as foods that can be incorporated into everyday dietary habits.

Because the same word “placenta” is used for both, they can sometimes be confused. However, medical placenta preparations and sheep placenta supplements should be understood as separate categories.

Features of Health Life NZ Sheep Placenta 25,000mg

Brilliant Life Products NZ offers Health Life NZ Sheep Placenta 25,000mg, produced by the New Zealand brand Health Life.

It is a 100-capsule sheep placenta supplement made with New Zealand sheep-derived placenta.

Made with New Zealand sheep-derived placenta

This product uses placenta derived from New Zealand sheep.

New Zealand is well known for sheep farming, and a variety of sheep-derived materials are produced and used in the country.

Brilliant Life Products NZ ships directly from New Zealand to Japan.

25,000mg equivalent of sheep placenta per capsule

According to the current product information, each capsule provides the equivalent of 25,000mg of sheep placenta.

The capsule format makes it simple to incorporate into an everyday routine.

Also contains grape seed extract

In addition to sheep placenta, the product contains the equivalent of 2,000mg of grape seed extract.

Grape seed is a plant-derived material obtained from the seeds of grapes and is used in a variety of health food products.

The combination of sheep-derived placenta and grape seed extract in a single capsule is one of the product's features.

100 capsules per bottle

Each bottle contains 100 capsules.

Its capsule format makes it easy to include as part of a lifestyle focused on everyday beauty and wellness.

What to consider before taking a supplement

Sheep placenta is sold as a health food that can be incorporated into everyday life, but it is important to follow the suggested intake and precautions shown on the product label.

Follow the suggested intake

Taking more of a health food does not necessarily make it better.

Use the product according to the suggested intake shown on the label.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult an appropriate healthcare professional before using health food supplements.

If you are receiving medical treatment or taking medication

If you are currently receiving medical treatment or taking medicines, consider consulting your doctor or pharmacist before adding a new health food supplement.

If you notice a change in your physical condition

If you experience an unexpected change in your physical condition or any unusual symptoms after using the product, stop using it. If symptoms persist, consult an appropriate healthcare professional.

Summary | Understanding sheep placenta as an ingredient

Sheep placenta is a placenta-derived material sourced from sheep and, together with pig- and horse-derived placenta, has attracted long-standing interest in beauty and wellness fields. Research into placenta-derived materials continues to examine components such as amino acids and peptides from a variety of perspectives. Medical human placenta extract injections and sheep placenta supplements, however, belong to different categories.

The single word “placenta” can therefore refer to different materials and products depending on the animal source and how the ingredient is used.

Understanding sheep placenta can make it easier to understand sheep-derived placenta as a material and the types of placenta products available in New Zealand.