Why is rbgh given to dairy cows

This document summarizes what is known about the product and its potential effects on health. The human form of growth hormone, also called somatotropin , is made by the pituitary gland. It promotes growth and cell replication. Recombinant bovine growth hormone rBGH or recombinant bovine somatotropin rBST refers to bovine growth hormone that is made in a lab using genetic technology. Some rBGH products on the market differ chemically from a cow's natural somatotropin by one amino acid.

Both the natural and recombinant forms of the hormone stimulate a cow's milk production by increasing levels of another hormone known as insulin-like growth factor IGF Concerns about possible health effects on humans from milk produced using rBGH have focused on 2 main issues. If it does, would this be expected to have any health effects in people, including increasing the risk of cancer?

Not only does eliminating rBGH and other livestock hormones from dairy and meat reduce potential risk for humans, it also promotes humane animal treatment by reducing the proven health risks for the cows who provide us with food.

Additionally, it can be argued that cows produce plenty of milk and meat without the need for added hormones. To us, keeping milk simple and natural is just plain common sense. The treated animal then loses its organic certification and must be removed from the organic herd. What is rBGH? What is rBST? How do These Hormones Work? Concerns for Humans Opponents of rBGH contend that milk from treated cows has higher levels of growth hormone than milk from non-treated cows.

Who is most vulnerable to the health effects? Research has shown an increased risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer in women with high IGF-1 in their blood, which can be increased by rBST, though studies seem inconclusive. What are the top tips to avoid exposure? Use products labeled rBST free. Labeling products containing rBST is not required, but many companies voluntarily indicate that they do not use dairy from rBST treated cows. Reviewed Related Resources.

Parabens Most commonly found in cosmetics and personal care products like lotion and sunscreen. After approving the use of rbGH in , the U. Food and Drug Administration FDA turned a deaf ear to the appeals of consumers, food safety organizations and scientists to reverse its approval of the hormone, or to simply require labeling of foods containing rbGH.

Because rbGH use results in more cases of mastitis, dairy farmers tend to use more antibiotics to combat the infections, the residues of which also may end up in milk and dairy products. These residues can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals and contribute to the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria, further undermining the efficacy of some antibiotics in fighting human infections. Canadian and European regulators have found that the FDA completely failed to consider a study that showed how the increased IGF-1 in rBGH milk could survive digestion and make its way into the intestines and blood stream of consumers.

These findings are significant because numerous studies now demonstrate that IGF-1 is an important factor in the growth of cancers of the breast, prostate and colon.