Goats Fed GM Soybean Produce Abnormal Milk, Reduces Weight of Off-Spring

GM-fed goats milk has significantly reduced antibody, fat and protein content and also contained transgenic DNA Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji

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A new study finds that feeding goats the genetically modified (GM) glyphosate-tolerant soybean MON40-3-2 changes the composition of colostrum, the nutrient-rich first milk produced during pregnancy. Colostrum is ordinarily packed with proteins, vitamins as well as antibodies to protect the new-born against disease. Offspring from conventional and GM-fed mothers weigh the same at birth but those from GM-fed mothers weigh significantly less 30 days after birth. The researchers also discovered transgenic DNA in the milk of mothers fed the GM diet.

Importance of colostrum

The work, published in Small Ruminant Research, led by Professor Lombardi at the University of Naples, Italy [1] should be seen in the light of recent discoveries of glyphosate herbicide in US mother’s breast milk at concentrations up to 1 600 times the legal limit allowed for single pesticides in EU drinking water [2]. The findings have important health implications, with the colostrum playing a well-known role in the short-term health and survival of both ruminant and human neonates. In addition to providing nutrients, antibodies present in colostrum are essential for the passive transfer of immunity to the offspring within the first 12-24 hours of life. It is already known that inadequate digestion or absorption of colostrum antibodies in ruminants leads to a secondary immunodeficiency condition, called the failure of passive transfer that predisposes neonates to bacterial septicaemia and common diseases and also increased risk of death until at least 10 weeks of age [3-5]. Human breast milk is also associated with protection against diarrheal disease, respiratory-tract infections, and necrotizing enterocolitis attributed to acquired (antibodies) and innate defence factors such as oligosaccharides and their glycocogjugates and antimicrobial proteins thought to promote the development of a healthy microbiota in the baby’s digestive system [6].

Feeding trial on mother and kid

The study looked at 40 male kids and their mothers of the ‘Cilantana’ breed indigenous to the region. All mothers had previously given birth the same number of times and producing similar amounts of milk in their previous lactation. At 60 days before kidding, the pregnant mothers were separated into two treatment groups of 10 mothers each, which were fed GM diets and 2 groups on a control, conventional feed. Both groups were allowed to eat unlimited amounts of hay, and were then supplemented with the same concentration of either conventional or GM soybean concentrate. Polymerase Chain reaction experiments were used to confirm the presence of GM feed in the treatment groups as well as the absence of GM contamination in the conventional feed.

Dramatic differences in colostrum

The two treated groups showed a dramatic 2/3 reduction in average protein content `in the colostrum from 18.7 % and 18.8 % in control groups to 6.1 % and 6.0 % in treated groups. Average colostrum fat content was 7.2 % and 7.1 % in control groups compared with 4.6 % in both treated groups. Average colostrum antibody content was 33.2 % and 31.2 % in control groups compared with 20.9 % and 18.0 % in treated groups.

Significant differences were still seen in the milk 15 days after kidding, returning to normal only after 30 days. The lower antibody concentration in the colostrum explains the reduced protein content, but it is unclear why there is a lower protein concentration in milk for 15 days after birth. The authors suggest that there may be less B lymphocytes, cells producing antibodies.

Weight of kids significantly reduced

Analysis of kid weight revealed that those from GM fed mothers were significantly lighter at day 30 (average weights of treated groups were 8.3kg and 8.2kg compared to 9.5 and 9.4kg in the control groups) and 60 when they were slaughtered (average weights of treated groups were 10.3 and 10.1kg compared to 12.5 and 12.3kg in control groups). There were no significant differences in the weight of individual organs. The serum antibody (IgG) levels were also significantly lower in kids from treated groups. The observation of decreased kid weights at 30 and 60 days old despite the milk not being significantly different at this stage suggests that the abnormalities of the colostrum are the underlying cause for the reduced weight. Indeed, antibody concentrations in the colostrum correlate with serum antibody concentrations in offspring, and the serum concentrations in turn correlate with levels of growth factors and maturation factors in the offspring. A combination of factors such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), somatotrophin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), insulin, transforming growth factor (TGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) have been shown to increase the synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein [7, 8]. The growth factors also inhibit the breakdown of protein, thought to help promote growth. Receptors for the growth factors are found in the intestines where they are thought to mediate intestinal growth and maturation.

The researchers detected transgenic DNA in the colostrum of GM-fed mothers (see figure 1). This finding comes after the recent discovery of transgenic DNA of the same sequence – the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (CaMV 35S), in the genomic DNA of rat organs fed a GM diet (see [9] CaMV 35S Promoter in GM Feed that Sickened Rats Transferred into Rat Blood, Liver, and Brain Cells, SiS 65). The horizontal transfer of transgenic DNA into the genome of those eating GM foods, or the microbes living inside those consuming GM foods poses an additional and under-recognized hazard of GM crops. The CaMV 35S promoter has its own specific hazards including its propensity to recombine with DNA, thus potentially modifying the genomic sequences of those eating it. It is also active in mammalian cells, which means it has the potential to influence the expression of other genes, including dormant viruses. This is yet another finding that goes against the purported claims that nucleotides are broken down by the digestive tract, preventing any toxicity of transgenic DNA to those consuming it.

To conclude

The US has by far the highest level of neonatal mortality in industrialised nations. Many factors likely underlie this statistic but it is clear that the integrity of the first meals of a baby’s life has far-reaching and long-term effects and must be protected against pollution with pesticides and GM foods.

Article first published 16/03/15

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References

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