GENETICALLY MODIFIED SOY DIETS LEAD TO OVARY AND UTERUS CHANGES IN RATS

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GENETICALLY MODIFIED SOY DIETS LEAD TO OVARY AND UTERUS CHANGES IN RATS

If you're still eating genetically modified (GM) soybeans and you plan on having

kids, a Brazilian study may make you think again about what you put in your

mouth. Female rats fed GM soy for 15 months showed significant changes in their

uterus and reproductive cycle, compared to rats fed organic soy or those raised

without soy. Published in The Anatomical Record in 2009, this finding adds to

the mounting body of evidence suggesting that GM foods contribute to

reproductive disorders (see summary at end).

Unlike women whose menstrual cycle starts automatically at puberty, female rats

need to be " inspired. " Their (estrous) cycle conveniently kicks in only after

being introduced to male rats. Since no males were present in this study, the

females fed organic soy or no soy were appropriately untriggered (diestrus). For

some odd reason, however, those fed GM soy appeared to have their ovulation

cycle in full gear.

Although the researchers did not perform a check on the estrous cycle directly,

their microscopic analysis of ovaries and uterus tissue showed that the

hormone-induced changes (i.e. early ovulation and formation of corpus luteum)

were well underway. In addition, the lining of the uterus (endometriim) had more

cells than normal and the glands were dilated. In simpler terms, according to

senior UK pathologist Stanley Ewen, something in the GM soy diet was " wrecking

the ovary and endometrium " of the rats.

Hormonal imbalance and disease risk

Dr. Ewen speculated on the significant hormonal changes in the rats and their

implications for women who eat GM soy. He said that the proliferative growth

(hyperplasia) of the (endometrial) cells lining the uterus implies changes in

important reproductive hormones. There might include excessive production of

estrogen, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone, or even damage

to the pituitary gland itself.

The presence of the corpus luteum, which is normally formed during the estrous

cycle, means that the rats likely have higher amounts of progesterone. This

hormone could increase the number of eggs released from the ovary, as well as

increase their tendency to implant and be viable. If eating GM soy increased

progesterone in women, this might improve their fertility.

On the other hand, if women also experienced similar changes in the uterus

lining and altered hormonal levels, Dr. Ewen said it might increase the risk of

retrograde menstruation, in which menstrual discharge travels backwards into the

body rather than through the uterus. This can cause a disease known as

endometriosis, which may lead to infertility. The disorder can also produce

pelvic and leg pain, gastrointestinal problems, chronic fatigue, and a wide

variety of other symptoms. The cause is unknown.

Dr. Ewen also pointed out that the changes in the rats, if extrapolated to

humans, might lead to abnormally heavy or longer menstrual periods

(menorrhagia).

He was quick to point out that more studies are needed before any firm

conclusions can be drawn, particularly because such a method of study, called

histology, " is a static observation—only a snapshot. " In addition, follow-up

studies may be able to better rule out other variables. In this study, an amino

acid (cysteine) was added only to the organic soy diet but not the GMO (although

even a cysteine-deficient diet would not explain the reproductive issues). Also,

the soybeans used in both diets were purchased commercially. It is much better

to use similar genetic varieties grown side by side in the same climatic

conditions. Unfortunately, Monsanto doesn't usually make the similar varieties

(isolines) available for research.

The variable that Dr. Ewen wants looked at the most is the weedkiller used on GM

soybeans, as he mentioned over and over that it is a probable cause of the

disruption.

Is Roundup herbicide causing us reproductive problems?

Genetically modified soybeans are called Roundup Ready. They are inserted with a

bacterial gene, which allows the plants to survive a normally deadly dose of

Roundup herbicide. Although the spray doesn't kill the plant, its active

ingredient called glyphosate does accumulate in the beans themselves, which are

consumed by rats, livestock, and humans. There is so much glyphosate in GM

soybeans, when they were introduced Europe had to increase their allowable

residue levels by 200 fold.

Although there is only a handful of studies on the safety of GM soybeans, there

is considerable evidence that glyphosate—especially in conjunction with the

other ingredients in Roundup—wreaks havoc with the endocrine and reproductive

systems. " I think the concentration of glyphosate in the soybeans is the likely

cause of the problem, " says Ewen.

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Glyphosate throws off the delicate hormonal balance that governs the whole

reproductive cycle. " It's an endocrine buster, " says Ewen, " that interferes with

aromatase, which produces estrogen. " Aromatase is required by luteal cells to

produce hormones for the normal menstrual cycle, but it's those luteal cells

that have shown considerable alterations in the rats fed GM soybeans.

Glyphosate is also toxic to the placenta, the organ which connects the mother to

the fetus, providing nutrients and oxygen, and emptying waste products. In a

2009 French study at the University of Caen, scientists discovered that

glyphosate can kill the cells in the outer layer of the human placenta (the

trophoblast membrane), which in turn can kill the placenta. The placenta cells

are, in Ewen's words, " exquisitely sensitive to glyphosate. " Only 1/500th the

amount needed to kill weeds was able to kill the cells. The amount is so small,

according to the study authors the " residual levels to be expected, especially

in food and feed derived from R[oundup] formulation-treated crops " could be

enough to " cause cell damage and even [cell] death. " Furthermore, the effect of

the toxin may bioaccumulate, growing worse with repeated consumption from

Roundup laden foods.

Ewen says, " If the endocrine functions of the placenta are destroyed by

glyphosate in the test tube, by extrapolation, ovarian and endometrial function

would be expected to suffer. " The implications for pregnant woman consuming

glyphosate, he says, could be abortion.

Indeed, in a Canadian epidemiological study, which looked at nearly 4000

pregnancies in 1,898 couples, women exposed to glyphosate during the three

months before getting pregnant had a significantly higher risk of abortions,

especially for those above 34 years of age.

Dr. Ewen regrets that he didn't follow up a referral by a local gynecologist

about 20 years ago, who told him that women were having abortions when the

fields next door were sprayed. He doesn't know what was sprayed.

Fathers exposed to glyphosate also increase reproductive risks

In the Canadian study above, even fathers who were exposed to glyphosate before

their wives got pregnant showed an increase in early delivery and abortions. In

addition, a study of male rabbits showed that glyphosate can cause a reduction

in sexual activity and sperm concentration, and an increase in dead or abnormal

sperm.

Birth defects increased in humans and animals

Numerous indigenous people and peasant communities in Argentina have blamed

aerial spraying of Roundup on a significant rise of birth defects. Dr. s

Carasco of the Embryology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine in Buenos Aires,

decided to investigate. He exposed amphibian embryos to a tiny concentration of

glyphosate (diluted 5000 fold). According to an excellent summary of

glyphosate-related effects by the Pesticide Action Network,

" Effects included reduced head size, genetic alterations in the central nervous

system, increased death of cells that help form the skull, deformed cartilage,

eye defects, and undeveloped kidneys. Carrasco also stated that the glyphosate

was not breaking down in the cells, but was accumulating. The findings lend

weight to claims that abnormally high levels of cancer, birth defects, neonatal

mortality, lupus, kidney disease, and skin and respiratory problems in

populations near Argentina's soybean fields may be linked to the aerial spraying

of Roundup. "

Although human embryos are not directly treated with glyphosate in the same way

that Carrasco treated his amphibian embryos, it is known that glyphosate does

cross the placenta and enters the fetal circulation.

In his article, Dr. Carrasco describes some disturbing findings in Argentina,

where more than 50 million gallons of glyphosate-based herbicide is used on more

than 45 million acres of GM soy.

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In Argentina, an increase in the incidence of congenital malformations began to

be reported in the last few years. In Co´rdoba, several cases of malformations

together with repeated spontaneous abortions were detected in the village of

Ituzaingo´, which is surrounded by GMO-based agriculture. These findings were

concentrated in families living a few meters from where the herbicides are

regularly sprayed.

Glyphosate may also cause reproductive disorders in the offspring of those

exposed. When pregnant rats, for example, were exposed to glyphosate, their male

offspring suffered reduced sperm production, increased abnormal sperm, and

decrease in testosterone, in puberty and/or adulthood.

Other evidence of reproductive problems from GMOs

The changes in the rat uterus and ovulation cycle are by no means a smoking gun.

But they are now part of a pattern of multiple reproductive disorders found in

GMO feeding studies.

Professor Vyvyan , a toxico-pathologist of the University of Ulster, says,

" Several new hazards can now be identified. " The growing body or research

showing problems, he says, " provides ample evidence that the producers of GMO

crops are not performing risk assessments for some of the hazards that

independent scientists are identifying and testing. " Dr. , who specializes

in the effects of toxins on the fetus and infants, asks, " What will be the

effect on the fetus in the womb of women eating these foods? This needs to be

tested. "

The few tests that have been done on animals are more than sobering. In April

2010, researchers at Russia's Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian

Academy of Sciences and the National Association for Gene Security found that

after feeding hamsters GM soy for two years over three generations, by the third

generation most lost the ability to have babies. They also suffered slower

growth, a high mortality rate among the pups, and a high incidence of a rare

phenomenon of hair growing inside their mouths.

When I reported the results of the hamster study, I included the following

review of other GMO-related reports of reproductive disorders:

In 2005, Irina Ermakova, also with the Russian National Academy of Sciences,

reported that more than half the babies from mother rats fed GM soy died within

three weeks. This was also five times higher than the 10% death rate of the

non-GMO soy group. The babies in the GM group were also smaller (see photo) and

could not reproduce.

In a telling coincidence, after Ermakova's feeding trials, her laboratory

started feeding all the rats in the facility a commercial rat chow using GM soy.

Within two months, the infant mortality facility-wide reached 55%.

When Ermakova fed male rats GM soy, their testicles changed from the normal pink

to dark blue! Italian scientists similarly found changes in mice testes (PDF),

including damaged young sperm cells. Furthermore, the DNA of embryos from parent

mice fed GM soy functioned differently.

An Austrian government study published in November 2008 showed that the more GM

corn was fed to mice, the fewer the babies they had (PDF), and the smaller the

babies were. Central Iowa Farmer Jerry Rosman also had trouble with pigs and

cows becoming sterile. Some of his pigs even had false pregnancies or gave birth

to bags of water. After months of investigations and testing, he finally traced

the problem to GM corn feed. Every time a newspaper, magazine, or TV show

reported Jerry's problems, he would receive calls from more farmers complaining

of livestock sterility on their farm, linked to GM corn.

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine accidentally discovered that rats

raised on corncob bedding " neither breed nor exhibit reproductive behavior. "

Tests on the corn material revealed two compounds that stopped the sexual cycle

in females " at concentrations approximately two-hundredfold lower than classical

phytoestrogens. " One compound also curtailed male sexual behavior and both

substances contributed to the growth of breast and prostate cancer cell

cultures. Researchers found that the amount of the substances varied with GM

corn varieties. The crushed corncob used at Baylor was likely shipped from

central Iowa, near the farm of Jerry Rosman and others complaining of sterile

livestock.

In Haryana, India, a team of investigating veterinarians report that buffalo

consuming GM cottonseed suffer from infertility, as well as frequent abortions,

premature deliveries, and prolapsed uteruses. Many adult and young buffalo have

also died mysteriously.

Biotech advocates usually deny or try to discredit the evidence, and often

attack scientists who discover it. But they rarely call for follow-up studies.

With little or no money to follow up on these findings, we won't know for sure

if GMOs are the cause, or if it is glyphosate, or something else. But numerous

medical doctors aren't waiting for more research. They are telling their

patients, especially those pregnant or planning to have kids, just say no to

GMOs.

So if you were still eating GMOs before you read this, perhaps it's time to take

the doctors' advice.