International Food Research Journal 25(1): 1 - 10 (February 2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ifrj.upm.edu.my Mini Review Adverse effects on consumer’s health caused by hormones administered in cattle Senthil Kumar, V., Rajan, C., Divya, P. and *Sasikumar, S. Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences, VIT University, Vellore -632014, Tamil Nadu, India Article history Abstract Received: 18 September 2016 In today’s digital age to feed this ever increasing population there is a high demand for more Received in revised form: production of food. To meet this task, artificial hormones are being used to increase the 18 December 2016 production of milk and meat. In this review, we address the controversial issue of adverse effects Accepted: 18 December 2016 of hormones being administered in cattle. Oestradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, Zeranol, Trenbolone and Melengestrol hormones are approved by U.S. food and drug administration Keywords (FDA) for commercial use. These have been found to be used to increase the quantity of milk Recombinant bovine growth and meat in cattle but their adverse effects being observed on the consumers as they cause hormone, cancer and premature puberty in children. Similarly the utilization of recombinant bovine Milk, growth hormone (rBGH) in cattle is seen to be a burning issue as it causes cancer. Here, we Cattle meat, present a deeper insight to above mentioned content Prepuberty, Insulin like growth factor, Cancer © All Rights Reserved Introduction Hormones are chemical messengers produced by rBGH hormone (Bauman et al., 1985; Elvinger et al., glands that are used to communicate between organs 1988; Monsanto Company, 2003). However, rBGH and tissues through the circulatory system. The major does not directly cause any side effects, but act as a function of hormones is to regulate physiological and basis for increased amounts of Insulin-like Growth behavioural activities such as digestion, metabolism, Factor-1 (IGF-1) hormone. This IGF-1 hormone respiration, sensory perception, sleep, stress, growth causes health issues in human beings. Human IGF-1 and reproduction (Neave, 2007). Based on their and bovine IGF-1 are chemically similar and allows chemical structure hormones are classified into four bovine hormone to be biologically active in humans classes which include (i) Aminoacid derivatives (Vermont Public Interest Research Group, 2002). (Thyroxin), (ii)Peptides, polypeptides and proteins When a biologically active bovine IGF-1 hormone (Insulin), (iii) Eicosanoids (Prostaglandins), and (iv) is ingested by humans in higher quantity, it becomes Steroid (Testosterone) (Marieb and Hoehn, 2007). more active and dangerous substance. These synthetic hormones are beneficial to human The growth hormones Oestradiol, Progesterone, beings, but they also have adverse effects such as Testosterone (Natural) and Zeranol, Trenbolone, prostate, breast and ovarian cancer (Epstein, 1996; Melengestrol (Synthetic) have a potential risk to Bohlke et al., 1998). In this current review, we deal human health. These hormones are administered in with the hazards of rBGH in milk and side effects of cattle for growth promotion purposes. The hormone hormonal residue found in meat. residues in meat results into adverse effect on human Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) health such as disrupt in human hormone balance, belongs to steroid is a transgenic substance injected causing developmental problems, interfering with into dairy cattle to increase milk production. rBGH the reproductive system and can even lead to the have potential to increase milk production from 8 to development of breast, prostate or colon cancer 12 pounds per day for a cattle. The DNA responsible to (Galbraith, 2002; Ganmaa and Sato, 2005). produce bovine growth hormone in cow is combined with a plasmid vector from E.Coli bacteria. Later, this rBGH and its mode of action is allowed to reproduce, enriches the quantity of the Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) is a natural *Corresponding author. Email: [email protected] 2 Senthil Kumar et al./IFRJ 25(1) : 1 - 10 occurring protein produced in cows, whereas the risk of breast cancer by the association of plasma recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) IGF-1 and Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding is a genetically engineered, synthetic version of Protein-3 (IGFBP-3). Compared with women in the the hormone. It works through a series of different lowest tertile of IGF-1 and upper two tertiles of IGF- biological processes in cattle which is not directly 1 are the elevated risk factor for ductal carcinoma in responsible for increased milk production, but it situ (Aizu-Yokota et al., 1994). stimulates liver that initiates the release of growth hormone IGF-1. This hormone enhances the milk Prostate cancer production in cows (Vermont Public Interest IGF-1 is a mitogen for prostate epithelial cells. To Research, 2002). Further, it also found to increase the investigate associations between plasma IGF levels rate of blood flow through the mammary gland and and prostate cancer risk, a case-control study within leading to production of large number of mammary the physicians was conducted on prospectively cells. It improves the ability of existing cells to collected plasma from 152 cases and 152 controls. synthesize more milk. Moreover, it also decreases the A strong positive association was observed between capability of the body to synthesize fat and making IGF-1 levels and prostate cancer risk (Chan et al., free fatty acids available for milk production. This 1998). extends lactation periods for up to three times more rBGH has been used for past 50 years. Due to than their normal length. This process doubles the this reason, the incidence of breast cancer in U.S. metabolic stress on the cow causing lack of essential women was increased to one in eight women from nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus (Bedford, one in 20 (Green, 2002). Both low-calorie diet and 2000). It has been reported that application of rBGH low birth weights can protect against breast cancer (Ex. Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin - rBST) but also decreases the amounts of IGF-1. A study increases the amount of excreted IGF-1 in milk by was conducted showing a seven time increased 25-70% (Prosser et al., 1989; European Commission, risk of breast cancer in pre-menopausal woman 1999). with high levels of IGF-1 in their blood and a four time increase of prostate cancer in men with high Effects on human health levels of IGF-1 in their blood. rBGH may also be The existing research work has been revealed responsible for the cause of decreasing in average that rBGH does not responsible for human health age of girls in the United States showing first signs problems, but it initiates the production of IGF- of puberty and menstruation (Green, 2002). Children 1 to high levels. Their presence in milk is resistant are also at risk for abnormal development, especially to pasteurization. Consequently, the consumption their reproductive and immune systems are still in of milk from rBST treated dairy cows will increase developing stage. Premature growth stimulation is a the daily intake of bovine IGF-1 (Slaba et al., 1993; real concern with sustained intakes of high levels of European Commission, 1999). Human IGF-1 and IGF-1 (Mepham et al., 1994). bovine IGF-1 are chemically similar and allowing the bovine hormone to be biologically active in Mastitis and related side effects humans. The role of IGF-1 in cancer is supported Mastitis is an inflammation of the udder of cattle. by epidemiological studies. It reveals high levels of The risk of mastitis is 25% greater with the use of circulating IGF-1 which is associated with increased rBGH with cases being more severe and long-lasting. risk of several common cancers such as prostate, The health dangers in dairy cattle caused by rBGH breast, colon-rectum and lung (Li et al., 1998; Yu and can itself cause other serious health issues in humans Rohan, 2000; Wei et al., 2015). by consuming their milk. With a higher incidence of infection such as mastitis in cows injected with Gastrointestinal cancer rBGH, which increased the demand for the use of The combination of IGF-1 in BST-milk and IGF- antibiotics. Many people are allergic to antibiotics 1 in the human gastrointestinal lumen would augment and may find themselves in dangerous to consume intraluminal concentrations of this hormone. This their milk. Today, antibiotic resistance in bacteria is increases the possibility of local mitogenic effects on a growing concern and causing common antibiotic gut tissues (Mepham et al., 1994). medicines to become useless as bacteria becomes immune to them (Galbraith, 2002; Vermont Public Breast cancer Interest Research Group, 2002). In a study of 94 cases of premenopausal ductal carcinoma in situ and 76 controls which indicates Senthil Kumar et al./IFRJ 25(1): 1 - 10 3 Risks to human health from hormone residues in cattle meat and meat product Oestradiol benzoate, Progesterone, Testosterone propionate, Zeranol, Trenbolone acetate, and Melengestrol acetate are used to increase the meat quantity in cattle. Basically these hormone derivatives except melengestrol (MGA) are usually placed alone or in combination with other steroidal hormones in cattle as compressed pellets on their ears but MGA is given orally 0.25-0.5 mg/day (Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures Relating to Public Health, 1999). Generally the dose contains 8-20 mg of Oestradiol benzoate, 200 mg of Progesterone, 100- Figure 1. Chemical structures of (a) Oestradiol-17ß 200 mg of Trenbolone acetate, 36 mg of Zeranol and hormone, (b) Progesterone hormone, (c) Testosterone 40-300 mg of Trenbolone acetate (Galbraith, 1997; hormone and (d) Zeranol hormone Brandt, 1997). Meat and meat products derived from Zeranol the cattle have the potential risk to human beings Zeranol (Figure 1(d)) is a natural myco-oestrogen (Galbraith, 2002). derived from zearalenone produced by different species of Fusariummolds.