Hormones In Meat And Dairy Foods and Consumer Concerns About Health

1Dr. Manisha Singodia and Dr. Lokesh Tak2

1Teaching Associate, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, CVAS, RAJUVAS, Bikaner 2Teaching Associate, Department of Livestock Products Technology, CVAS, RAJUVAS, Bikaner

The presence of hormones in milk and dairy foods was discussed decades ago but rather more concerns attended to that with respect to finding hormones as biomarkers in milk for diseases and pregnancy diagnosis. Moreover, considerable amount of studies demonstrated that existing of hormones in humans and animals milk are essential for infants growing and immunity. During the last couple of years, increasing body of evidence are indicating another property of hormones in dairy products as possible impact on human health including the role of some estrogens and insulin-like growth factor-1 in initiation and provoking of breast, prostate and endometrial tumours.

What are hormones?

Hormones are chemicals that are produced naturally in the bodies of all animals, including humans. They are chemical messages released into the blood by hormone producing organs that travel to and affect different parts of the body.

Why hormones are introduced in animals?

Young animals gain weight faster

Reduced waiting time

Reduction in the average amount of feed required by an animal

Increased milk production

Increased overall efficiency and profitability of meat and dairy industries.

How are the hormones introduced into the animals?

Steroid hormones are usually released into the animal from a pellet (ear implant) that is put under the skin of the ear. The ears of the animals are thrown away at slaughter. Improper use of pellet implants in other parts of the animal can result in higher levels of hormone residues to remain in the edible meat. Federal regulations prohibit their use in this manner. Melengestrol acetate is also available in a form that can be added to animal feed. Dairy cattle may be injected under the skin with rbGH. This hormone is available in packages of single dose injections to reduce chances of accidental overdose.

Do hormones remain in the milk or meat of treated animals?

The levels of naturally produced hormones vary from animal to animal, and a range in these levels is known to be normal. Because it is not possible to differentiate between the hormones produced naturally by the animal and those used to treat the animal, it is difficult to determine exactly how much of the hormone used for treatment remains in the meat or the milk. Studies indicate that if correct treatment and slaughter procedures are followed, the levels of these hormones may be slightly higher in the treated animal's meat or milk, but are still within the normal range of natural variation known to occur in untreated animals.

Hormones Found in Milk

The most important hormones found in milk and other dairy products by using a variety of analytical methods consist of prolactin, steroids including estrogens, progesterone, corticoids, and androgens. Moreover, the existence of other hormones such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and l o c a l h o r m o n e s i n c l u d i n g prostaglandins (Pgs), in dairy products has been reported. It has been assumed that most of the hormones a rre

transferred into milk by diffusion. However, evidence is available for active mechanisms like those for progesterone in goats and prolactin in cows. PGs level in milk samples could be used as a marker of mastitis in cows. Currently, federal regulations allow these hormones to be used on growing cattle and sheep, but not on poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks) or hogs (pigs).

Insulin-like growth factor-1 is a 70-amino acid polypeptide.

Chiefly, it is produced by the mammary glands and the liver, but there is no tissue that fails to synthesize it. IGF-1's anabolic signals have been linked to the development of tumors through anti-apoptosis effects and by stimulating cell proliferation.

High levels of IGF-1 have been associated with increased risk of cancer of the colon, pancreas, endometrium and breast and prostate in particular. It is important to note that a high level of IGF can increase the risk of these cancers regardless of its source.

Hormones in Meat Products

Growth hormones are a central part of meat production. They are used to control growth, the amount of feed an animal requires, an animal's milk production, as well as the production of fat and muscle. Treating animals with hormones can increase the worth of the meat and make animals cheaper to raise.

Exogenous Hormones

Exogenous hormones are chemicals that are manufactured to mimic the functions of the naturally occurring hormones. They can be used to encourage ovulation to help a person to become pregnant. Some exogenous hormones have been found to be carcinogenic to humans, and as such their presence in food is strictly controlled or, in some cases, prohibited entirely. For instance, milk from cows that have been recently injected with exogenous hormones cannot be used for commercial purposes. Not all hormones found in food were inserted artificially. More than 300 plants, especially legumes and leafy green vegetables, contain naturally occurring phytoestrogens. The phytoestrogens are similar to estrogen in how they act in the body

What are the Risks of Hormones in Meat and Dairy Products? Insulin Issues

One of the primary reasons dairy is linked to acne is that it raises insulin in the body. All dairy contains IG1, or insulin-growth factor. It raises our levels of insulin, which causes blood sugar swings that lead to acne.

Mood Swings

Dairy also contains hormones that can lead to mood swings. Estrogen and testosterone are our sex hormones, and when they get out of balance according to our bodies' needs, we suffer mood swings as a result.

Cancer-Causing

Milk causes cancer in any form, organic or not. Dairy milk and cheese products led to testicular cancer in men ages 2039 and has been found to affect breast, colon, and prostate cancer heavily as well and then there's the casein protein found in milk that has also been linked to cancer. Even without hormones or even lactose, casein is a detrimental protein to our health and should be avoided however possible. Growth hormones found in meat could have a substantial effect on prepubescent children. If a child i s n' t y e t p ro d u c i n g g ro w t h h o r m o n e s t h e m s e l v e s , consumption of these growth hormones through either meat or dairy products could enter the child into puberty around seven months earlier, a study has found. However, there isn't a definitive link to prove this as early puberty is also attributed to a number of other reasons, ranging from obesity and lack of exercise, to the consumption of a lot ofprocessed food.

Conclusion

Studies done so far do not provide evidence to state that hormone residues in meat or dairy products cause any human health effects. However, a conclusion on lack of human health effect can only be made after large-scale studies compare the health of people who eat meat or dairy products from hormone-treated animals, to people who eat a similar diet, but from untreated animals. Ambiguity comes from the fact that many of the hormones found in these products are naturally occurring both in the animal and the human consumer, and it is difficult to differentiate between synthetic hormones and naturally occurring hormones in meat or dair y samples. r