Hormones in Food as a Potential Risk for Human Reproductive and Health Disorders

Abstract

In the last 60 years, milk, meat, and egg worldwide consumption per capita increased 2-, 3-, and 5-fold, respectively. In the same period, several studies have reported a drop of semen quality and an increased incidence of cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and some hormone-related cancers (testicular, prostate, breast, endometrial cancer) in humans. A possible reason for these disruptions is increased exposure to exogenous hormones in food of animal origin. Hormones in food are considered to affect the endocrine system and cell signaling and thus disrupt homeostasis in the consumers. Since food safety assurance is a part of the veterinary service, the risk assessment of hormones in food as potential disruptive compounds is a significant challenge. Numerous cohort and epidemiologic studies and meta-analyses have been performed with respect to find an association between the consumption of food of animal origin and particular health disorders. Additionally, several studies in animal models have been performed to explain the mechanisms of disruptive effects of exogenous hormones. Since contradictory results have been reported, there is no general conclusion about the disruptive effects of exogenous hormones. Further experiments on animals in which long-term treatment with exogenous hormones is performed and further comprehensive endocrinological, toxicological, and human epidemiological studies are needed to confirm or deny the role of exogenous hormones in human health disorders. Moreover, long-term exposure to a combination of several exogenous compounds, such as environmental pollutants and dietary hormones and their additive effects, are also not well known and should be a topic for further studies.

The effect of endocrine disruptors in foods on pubertal development

“…Amerika Gıda ve İlaç Dairesi (FDA) tarafından süt ve ürünlerinde %1'den az olması şartıyla ekzojen hormonların etkisinin olmadığını belirtilse de bu konu ile ilgili henüz fikir birliği sağlanamamıştır. 47 Süt ve süt ürünlerinde anabolik hormon düzeyinin, et ve ürünlerine kıyasla daha yüksek olduğu belirtilmektedir. Diğer taraftan, işlenmiş hayvan ürünlerinin tüketilmesi ile alınan östradiol miktarı (500 g et başına 0.0045-0.180 µg), insanın günlük hormon üretim miktarından yaklaşık kırk ila binlerce kat daha düşüktür.…”

In vivo study of the oestrogenic activity of milk

“…Their effects may result in permanent changes in function or sensitivity to hormones, leading to disorders of puberty, and reproduction and even to development of hormonally dependent tumours ( 8 ). An important source of EDCs is food of animal origin, in which, apart from natural hormones there are anthropogenic equivalents and non-steroidal natural compounds ( 11 , 31 ).…”

“…These concerns appear to be confirmed by epidemiological studies conducted in recent years, indicating a link between high milk consumption and the increased risk of the occurrence of endometrial and ovarian cancer in women ( 20 ) and prostate cancer in men ( 26 ). Food of animal origin including milk additionally may contain natural and synthetic sex steroid hormones (17β-oestradiol, oestrone, oestriol, progesterone, medroxyprogesterone, and glucocorticoids) which are used illegally to increase cattle performance ( 11 , 31 ). The growth promoters among these have very strong oestrogenic activity and may greatly enhance this effect in milk.…”

Does Organic Sprouted Whole Wheat Grain Flourless Bread Decreases DNA Damage in Diabetic Patients?

“…Changes in lifestyle, especially in diet habits, have caused epidemics of obesity during last decades. Furthermore, the consumption of food of animal origin has been steadily increasing in the recent decades, which additionally could contribute to human metabolic disorders, having in mind the potential of hormone residues in animal food products [3]. One of the highly esteemed foodstuff in human diet is cow's milk which contains essential nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins, however intake of certain types of milk proteins can lead to endocrine disorders, such as diabetes [4].…”