Estradiol [estradiol benzoate, estradiol beta17, oestradiol]
Estradiol is one of the main ingredients in several controversial beef-hormone "preparations" used in Canada. One of these hormone preparations, Revelor-H, was approved as recently as 1997 against the advice of Health Canada's own scientific experts. According to a European study released in 1999, estradiol17 beta is "considered a complete carcinogen ... it exerts both tumour-initiating and tumour promoting effects." Apart from being carcinogenic, Canadian scientists also observed that Revelor-H resulted in a marked reduction of the thymus gland which is essential to the normal functioning of the immune system. A damaged immune system can result in a people being unable to defend themselves against common colds, infections or cancers.
Progesterone
Progesterone is a steroid hormone linked to the implantation of the egg in the uterus and the growth of the embryo and fetus. In laboratory animals, progesterone has been shown to increase the incidence of tumours in the mammary gland, ovary, uterus and vagina.
Testosterone [testosterone propionat]
Testosterone is the main sex hormone secreted by males and is known to induce tumours in mice and prostate cancer in rats.
Trenbolone [trenbolone acetate]
Trenbolone is a synthetic androgen having anabolic activity severalfold greater than testosterone. Feeding trenbolone to mice produced pancreatic tumours, liver tumours and hyperplasia.
Zeranol
Zeranol is a mycoestrogen produced by various species of fusarium moulds. Male mice exposed in utero to zeranol produced testicular abnormalities. Zeranol also caused the development of pituitary gland tumours in mice and the induction of adenomas and carcinomas of the liver in hamsters.
Melengestrol acetate [MGA, melengestrol]
Melengestrol acetate is the only beef hormone administered as a feed additive and is a sister compound of Diethylstilbestrol (DES). MGA pellets implanted in female mice caused increased incidence in mammary tumours.
* Image courtesy of Now Magazine, by permission
See also The Real Dope On Beef Hormones - By Bradford Duplisea
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