Types of hormones fed to animals and their effects

Currently it is very common that animals for human consumption, like chickens, pigs, and cows, have been fed with hormones to increase their weight, size, and to make them grow faster so they can be sold faster. This makes them more profitable than normal animals.

Unfortunately these hormones affect the way that our system functions; over time this can bring us several health problems.

There are six natural and artificial hormones that are used in agricultural livestock production which have a potential risk to human health.

Natural hormones used in agriculture animals are:

• Progesterone: is a naturally occurring reproductive hormone. It has been linked to tumors in the reproductive tract of animals.
  
• Testosterone: is a steroid reproductive hormone. It has been linked to prostate cancer in laboratory animals.
  
• Estradiol: is a hormone identified as a “complete carcinogen”, which promotes and initiates the growth of tumors. it has been linked to shrinking of the thymus gland.
  (Source on link 1)

Artificial or synthetic hormones are:

• Trenbolone: (trenbolone acetate hormone) is a hormone that has been linked to the pancreatic and liver tumors as well as hyperplasia.
  
• Zeranol: is another synthetic hormone linked to testicular abnormalities and pituitary gland tumors.
  
• Melengestrol: is systematically fed to cattle as a feed additive. It is linked to mammary tumors in female laboratory animals.
  (Source on link 1)

These types of hormones can leave residues on the meat that humans consume. It is possible that all these different kinds of residues can affect the health of those who eat meat.

“The Committee also questioned whether hormone residues in the meat of "growth enhanced" animals and can disrupt human hormone balance, causing developmental problems, interfering with the reproductive system, and even leading to the development of breast, prostate or colon cancer.” (Quote Link 1)

Hormones can be harmful to the point that they cause different types of cancer in the human beings who consume this meat.


Bibliography:
1. http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/hormones/ (Quote)
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10844188
3. http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/Factsheet/Diet/fs37.hormones.cfm

By: Andres David Veloz Hernandez