Newest research shows that women who ate beef seven times a week are making their sons half less fertile.
Women who eat a lot of beef during pregnancy may compromise their sons' future reproductive abilities, researchers here reported. In other words, beef lovers are making their sons infertile.
Newest research shows that women who ate beef seven times a week are altering a male's in utero testicular development.
A study of nearly 400 women conducted in five U.S. cities between 1999 and 2005 shows that men whose mothers reported eating more than seven beef meals a week while pregnant, had a sperm concentration more than 24% lower than that of men whose mothers ate less beef.
The reason could be residual anabolic steroids in the meat, Shanna Swan, Ph.D., of the University of Rochester (N.Y.), and colleagues, reported online in the March 28 issue of Human Reproduction.
In addition, three times more sons of high-beef consumers had a sperm concentration that would be classified as subfertile according to World Health Organization standards, compared with men whose mothers ate less beef, said Dr. Swan and colleagues.
Although the U.S. banned the growth promoter diethylstilbestrol (DES) for use in cattle in 1954, other hormones such as estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, and the synthetic hormones zeranol, trenbolone acetate, and melengestrol continue to be used.
Sperm concentration was not significantly related to the mothers' consumption of other meats (pork, lamb, veal) or to the men's consumption of any meat, the researchers found. Also, mothers' consumption of chicken, fish, soy products, and vegetables appeared harmless. On average, mothers ate 4.3 beef meals a week, and only 15 (4%) reported eating no beef during pregnancy.
FDA allows minimal hormone residues, known as acceptable daily intake, in slaughtered beef, and these residues may possibly affect semen quality in men whose mothers ate a lot of beef during pregnancy.
In Europe, the use of these natural and synthetic hormones has been banned since 1988.
Researchers also say that pesticides, other contaminants in animal feed, and lifestyle factors may play a role in the effect.
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