Milk and the Cancer Connection

[Guest guest]

Milk and the Cancer Connection JoAnn Guest Feb 01, 2005 15:49 PST

With complete references for researchers

 

by Hans R. Larsen, MSc ChE

 

On January 23, 1998 researchers at the Harvard Medical School released a

major study providing conclusive evidence that IGF-1 is a potent risk

factor for prostate cancer. Should you be concerned? Yes, you certainly

should, particularly if you drink milk produced in the United States.

 

IGF-1 or insulin-like growth factor 1 is an important hormone which is

produced in the liver and body tissues. It is a polypeptide and consists

of 70 amino acids linked together.

 

All mammals produce IGF-1 molecules very similar in structure and human

and bovine IGF-1 are completely identical. IGF-1 acquired its name

because it has insulin-like activity in fat (adipose) tissue and has a

structure which is very similar to that of proinsulin.

 

The body's production of IGF-1 is regulated by the human growth hormone

and peaks at puberty. IGF-1 production declines with age and is only

about half the adult value at the age of 70 years.

 

IGF-1 is a very powerful hormone which has profound effects even though

its concentration in the blood serum is only about 200 ng/mL or 0.2

millionth of a gram per milliliter(1-4).

 

IGF-1 and cancer

 

IGF-1 is known to stimulate the growth of both normal and cancerous

cells(2,5). In 1990 researchers at Stanford University reported that

IGF-1 promotes the growth of prostate cells(2).

 

This was followed by the discovery that IGF-1 accelerates the growth of

breast cancer cells(6-. In 1995 researchers at the National Institutes

of Health reported that IGF-1 plays a central role in the progression of

many childhood cancers and in the growth of tumours in breast cancer,

small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and cancers of the pancreas and

prostate(9). In September 1997 an international team of researchers

reported the first epidemiological evidence that high IGF-1

concentrations are closely linked to an increased risk of prostate

cancer(10). Other researchers provided evidence of IGF-1's link to

breast and colon cancers(10,11).

 

The January 1998 report by the Harvard researchers confirmed the link

between IGF-1 levels in the blood and the risk of prostate cancer. The

effects of IGF-1 concentrations on prostate cancer risk were found to be

astoundingly large - much higher than for any other known risk factor.

 

Men having an IGF-1 level between approximately 300 and 500 ng/mL were

found to have more than four times the risk of developing prostate

cancer than did men with a level between 100 and 185 ng/mL. The

detrimental effect of high IGF-1 levels was particularly pronounced in

men over 60 years of age. In this age group men with the highest levels

of IGF-1 were eight times more likely to develop prostate cancer than

men with low levels. The elevated IGF-1 levels were found to be present

several years before an actual diagnosis of prostate cancer was

made(12).

 

 

The evidence of a strong link between cancer risk and a high level of

IGF-1 is now indisputable. The question is why do some people have high

levels while others do not? Is it all genetically ordained or could it

be that diet or some other outside factor influences IGF-1 levels? Dr.

Samuel Epstein of the University of Illinois is one scientist who

strongly believes so. His 1996 article in the International Journal of

Health Sciences clearly warned of the danger of high levels of IGF-1

contained in milk from cows injected with synthetic bovine growth

hormone (rBGH). He postulated that IGF-1 in rBGH-milk could be a

potential risk factor for breast and gastrointestinal cancers(13).

 

The milk connection

 

Bovine growth hormone was first synthesized in the early 1980s using

genetic engineering techniques (recombinant DNA biotechnology). Small

scale industry-sponsored trials showed that it was effective in

increasing milk yields by an average of 14 per cent if injected into

cows every two weeks.

 

In 1985 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States

approved the sale of milk from cows treated with rBGH (also known as

BST) in large scale veterinary trials and in 1993 approved commercial

sale of milk from rBGH-injected cows(13-16). At the same time the FDA

prohibited the special labelling of the milk so as to make it impossible

for the consumer to decide whether or not to purchase it(13).

 

Concerns about the safety of milk from BST-treated cows were raised as

early as 1988 by scientists in both England and the United

States(14,15,17-22). One of the main concerns is the high levels of

IGF-1 found in milk from treated cows; estimates vary from twice as high

to 10 times higher than in normal cow's milk(13,14,23).

 

There is also concern that the IGF-1 found in treated milk is much more

potent than that found in regular milk because it seems to be bound less

firmly to its accompanying proteins(13).

 

The concerns were vigorously attacked by consultants paid by Monsanto,

the major manufacturer of rBGH. In an article published in the Journal

of the American Medical Association in August 1990 the consultants

claimed that BST-milk was entirely safe for human consumption(16,24).

They pointed out that BST-milk contains no more IGF-1 than does human

breast milk - a somewhat curious argument as very few grown-ups continue

to drink mother's milk throughout their adult life.

 

They also claimed that IGF-1 would be completely broken down by

digestive enzymes and therefore would have no biological activity in

humans(16). Other researchers disagree with this claim and have warned

that IGF-1 may not be totally digested and that some of it could indeed

make its way into the colon and cross the intestinal wall into the

bloodstream. This is of special concern in the case of very young

infants and people who lack digestive enzymes or suffer from

protein-related allergies(13,14,20,22,25).

 

 

Researchers at the FDA reported in 1990 that IGF-1 is not destroyed by

pasteurization and that pasteurization actually increases its

concentration in BST-milk. They also confirmed that undigested protein

could indeed cross the intestinal wall in humans and cited tests which

showed that oral ingestion of IGF-1 produced a significant increase in

the growth of a group of male rats -a finding dismissed earlier by the

Monsanto scientists(25). The most important aspect of these experiments

is that they show that IGF-1 can indeed enter the blood stream from the

intestines - at least in rats.

 

Unfortunately, essentially all the scientific data used by the FDA in

the approval process was provided by the manufacturers of rBGH and much

of it has since been questioned by independent scientists. The effect of

IGF-1 in rBGH-milk on human health has never actually been tested and in

March 1991 researchers at the National Institutes of Health admitted

that it was not known whether IGF-1 in milk from treated cows could have

a local effect on the esophagus, stomach or intestines(26,27).

 

Whether IGF-1 in milk is digested and broken down into its constituent

amino acids or whether it enters the intestine intact is a crucial

factor. No human studies have been done on this, but recent research has

shown that a very similar hormone, Epidermal Growth Factor, is protected

against digestion when ingested in the presence of casein, a main

component of milk(13,23,2. Thus there is a distinct possibility that

IGF-1 in milk could also avoid digestion and make its way into the

intestine where it could promote colon cancer(13,22). It is also

conceivable that it could cross the intestinal wall in sufficient

amounts to increase the blood level of IGF-1 significantly and thereby

increase the risk of breast and prostate cancers(13,14).

 

The bottom line

Despite assurances from the FDA and industry-paid consultants there are

now just too many serious questions surrounding the use of milk from

cows treated with synthetic growth hormone to allow its continued sale.

Bovine growth hormone is banned in Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

 

The European Union has maintained its moratorium on the use of rBGH and

milk products from BST-treated cows are not sold in countries within the

Union. Canada has also so far resisted pressure from the United States

and the biotechnology lobby to approve the use of rBGH commercially.

 

In light of the serious concerns about the safety of human consumption

of milk from BST-treated cows consumers must maintain their vigilance to

ensure that European and Canadian governments continue to resist the

pressure to approve rBGH and that the FDA in the United States moves

immediately to ban rBGH-milk or at least allow its labelling so that

consumers can protect themselves against the very real cancer risks

posed by IGF-1.

 

 

References

 

 

Wilson, Jean D. and Foster, Daniel W., eds. Williams Textbook of

Endocrinology, 8th edition, London, W.B. Saunders Company, 1992, pp.

1096-1106

Cohen, Pinchas, et al. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), IGF

receptors, and IGF-binding proteins in primary cultures of prostate

epithelial cells. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol.

73, No. 2, 1991, pp. 401-07

Rudman, Daniel, et al. Effects of human growth hormone in men over 60

years old. New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 323, July 5, 1990, pp.

1-6

LeRoith, Derek, moderator. Insulin-like growth factors in health and

disease. Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 116, May 15, 1992, pp. 854-62

 

Rosenfeld, R.G., et al. Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in

neoplasia (meeting abstract). Hormones and Growth Factors in Development

and Neoplasia, Fogarty International Conference, June 26-28, 1995,

Bethesda, MD, 1995, p. 24

Lippman, Marc E. The development of biological therapies for breast

cancer. Science, Vol. 259, January 29, 1993, pp. 631-32

Papa, Vincenzo, et al. Insulin-like growth factor-I receptors are

overexpressed and predict a low risk in human breast cancer. Cancer

Research, Vol. 53, 1993, pp. 3736-40

Stoll, B.A. Breast cancer: further metabolic-endocrine risk markers?

British Journal of Cancer, Vol. 76, No. 12, 1997, pp. 1652-54

LeRoith, Derek, et al. The role of the insulin-like growth factor-I

receptor in cancer. Annals New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 766,

September 7, 1995, pp. 402-08

Mantzoros, C.S., et al. Insulin-like growth factor 1 in relation to

prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. British Journal of

Cancer, Vol. 76, No. 9, 1997, pp. 1115-18

Cascinu, S., et al. Inhibition of tumor cell kinetics and serum insulin

growth factor I levels by octreotide in colorectal cancer patients.

Gastroenterology, Vol. 113, September 1997, pp. 767-72

Chan, June M., et al. Plasma insulin-like growth factor I and prostate

cancer risk: a prospective study. Science, Vol. 279, January 23, 1998,

pp. 563-66

Epstein, Samuel S. Unlabeled milk from cows treated with biosynthetic

growth hormones: a case of regulatory abdication. International Journal

of Health Services, Vol. 26, No. 1, 1996, pp. 173-85

Epstein, Samuel S. Potential public health hazards of biosynthetic milk

hormones. International Journal of Health Services, Vol. 20, No. 1,

1990, pp. 73-84

Epstein, Samuel S. Questions and answers on synthetic bovine growth

hormones. International Journal of Health Services, Vol. 20, No. 4,

1990, pp. 573-82

Daughaday, William H. and Barbano, David M. Bovine somatotropin

supplementation of dairy cows - Is the milk safe? Journal of the

American Medical Association, Vol. 264, August 22/29, 1990, pp. 1003-05

Brunner, Eric. Safety of bovine somatotropin. The Lancet, September 10,

1988, p. 629 (letter to the editor)

Kronfeld, D.S., et al. Bovine somatotropin. Journal of the American

Medical Association, Vol. 265, March 20, 1991, pp. 1389-91 (letters to

the editor)

Rubin, Andrew L. and Goodman, Mark. Milk safety. Science, Vol. 264, May

13, 1993, pp. 889-90 (letters to the editor)

Challacombe, D.N., et al. Safety of milk from cows treated with bovine

somatotrophin. The Lancet, Vol. 344, September 17, 1994, pp. 815-17

(letters to the editor)

Coghlan, Andy. Milk hormone data bottled up for years. New Scientist,

October 22, 1994, p. 4

Coghlan, Andy. Arguing till the cows come home. New Scientist, October

29, 1994, pp. 14-15

Mepham, T.B., et al. Safety of milk from cows treated with bovine

somatotrophin. The Lancet, Vol. 344, July 16, 1994, pp. 197-98 (letter

to the editor)

Grossman, Charles J. Genetic engineering and the use of bovine

somatotropin. Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 264,

August 22/29, 1990, p. 1028 (editorial)

Juskevich, Judith C. and Guyer, C. Greg. Bovine growth hormone: human

food safety evaluation. Science, Vol. 249, August 24, 1990, pp. 875-84

Mepham, T.B. Bovine somatotrophin and public health. British Medical

Journal, Vol. 302, March 2, 1991, pp. 483-84

NIH technology assessment conference statement on bovine somatotropin.

Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 265, March 20, 1991,

pp. 1423-25

Playford, R.J., et al. Effect of luminal growth factor preservation on

intestinal growth. The Lancet, Vol. 341, April 3, 1993, pp. 843-48

 

------End of References------

--

 

DAIRY EDUCATION BOARD NEWSLETTER

 

Adding Insult to personal loss!

 

THE FUGITIVE, THE " CRIME " AND THE ONE ARMED MAN...

 

As a grand jury convenes in Orange County, California, balancing the

scales of justice and wisdom to decide whether to charge Al Joyner with

the death of his wife, Flo Jo, the true CEREAL killer stalks other

victims having committed and gotten away with similar crimes against

humanity.

 

Harrison Ford wore a bloodstained shirt and was unfairly accused of

murdering his wife in the blockbuster 1997 move, THE FUGITIVE, after a

series of events incorrectly pointed the finger at Dr. Richard Kimball.

 

Florence Joyner's husband might soon be the victim of a similar

miscarriage of justice. Flo Jo's body revealed petechial marks, often a

sign of a violent struggle or beating. These blacks and blues were on

her chest and neck and eyelids. Who would even imagine that they might

have been self-induced? Certainly not the medical examiner, nor the

Sheriff's Department who oversaw the official coroner's inquiry.

 

The identity of Flo Jo's killer is contained in the actual autopsy but

the coroner had not the vision to identify the evildoer. Rumors had

the autopsy team first investigate the possible use of hormones. When

no steroids were found the conclusion was made that her death was due to

 

heart disease.

 

Eleven days after the initial autopsy was completed,

histological examination of brain tissues resulted in the final

explanation: " POSITIONAL ASPHYXIA due to EPILEPTIFORM SEIZURE. " In plain

 

English, the coroner believes that Flo Jo had an epileptic seizure and

smothered in her pillow.

 

The FUGITIVE'S movie wife called his name over the telephone, to be

recorded by the 911 operator. In the movie, the prosecutor and jury

assumed that she was naming her killer.

 

Flo Jo named her killer but the medical examiner did not examine his

medical records closely enough. Through Flo Jo's death a lesson should

have been learned so that future lives be saved.

 

Flo Jo knew that her body was filled with mucus. She was producing

histamines, the body's natural anti-body defense to an invading antigen.

 

 

Her solution was to take an anti-histamine, BENADRYL. Flo Jo's lungs

were filled with frothy fluid. Her tracheobronchial tree contained

mucus and frothy fluid. mucus and congestion filled her adrenals and

spleen, pancreas and kidneys.

 

The coroner, aware that her last meal was PIZZA, eaten 15 hours earlier,

 

called the brick-sized lump of undigested food with flecks appearing to

be cheese in her stomach: " digested food. " One wonders whether the

gooddoctor ever took a class in nutrition.

 

After 15 hours, food still in

the stomach creates duress and can no way be called digested. Flo Jo's

body pumped enormous amounts of histamines which in turn created

enormous amounts of mucus, filling her lungs, body organs and cavities

with a tenacious glue.

 

Flo Jo's autopsy is consistent with that of slow heart response type

changes, usually noted with respiratory failure or obstruction. She

slowly suffocated, gasping for breath while the bronchioles of her lungs

 

filled with mucus, and not the life sustaining oxygen required by every

cell in her body.

 

This is the time for an INQUEST. This is the time for OUTRAGE. This is

the time for JUSTICE. The autopsy reveals TRUTH. Epileptic seizures

often result in damage to the lips or tongue or cheeks. Flo Jo had no

such damage. Strangulation usually breaks the tiny hyoid bone in the

neck. Flo Jo's bone was intact.

 

The black and blues, petechial marks were not delivered by Al Joyner,

Flo Jo's grieving husband. These marks could very well have been caused

by Flo Jo herself, struggling violently to breathe, gasping for breath

which was impossible to take in. As her body died, asphyxiating, the

brain triggered an emergency wake-up call, an electrical and biochemical

 

jolt and seizure that could not clear Flo Jo's lungs. This failed jump-

start later appeared as an epileptiform seizure on the coroner's report.

 

 

One-half million children in New York, thousands of Native-American

children on reservations, millions of children across America live below

 

the poverty level and have asthma. These kids are the beneficiaries of

free breakfast, lunch and snack, all dairy-based. Eighty percent of

milk and cheese protein is CASEIN, a tenacious glue and allergenic

substance causing histamines which result in mucus.

 

The one-armed killer has killed before. This demon is a CEREAL killer

and remains free to kill over and over again. His name is the DAIRY

INDUSTRY and his murder weapon is the MILK MUSTACHE AD. He has gotten

away with his crimes and must not be permitted to kill again. In posing

for her ad, FLO JO was BETRAYED by her killer. Her ad might have

betrayed others for whom she was a role model.

 

For the sake of the TWENTY CHILDREN who will die today and tomorrow, and

 

every day until he is identified, for the sake of this innocent man, Al,

 

father of Mo Jo, husband to Flo Jo, we MUST examine the evidence and LET

FLO JO'S DEATH BECOME HER HEALING LEGACY.

 

Should you desire additional information or a means of expressing your

opinion... please contact:

 

Robert Cohen

Executive Director

Dairy Education Board

201-967-7001

http://www.notmilk.com

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read only the mail you want - Mail SpamGuard.