Link between GMO foods and Leukemia

[Carrot_Top]

Bottom line of this article "Their conclusion is that it is premature to consider GM toxins to be safe in mammals."

greenmedinfo.com/blog/new-s...

[AussieNeil Administrator]

Hopefully that research from 2013 will be confirmed elsewhere (the referenced paper called for further studies) and appropriate safeguards put in place if needed, because currently GMO food regulations are such that it is nigh impossible to guarantee there are no GMO plant ingredients in any processed food.

We do need to be aware that both sides in this debate are equally capable of putting spin on their words to convince their audience. I note particularly this sentence: 'In addition, the study found that Bt toxins suppressed bone marrow proliferation creating abnormal lymphocyte patterns consistent with some types of leukemia.' (my emphasis)

I could facetiously say 'Perhaps we should eat GMO foods to clean the CLL out of our bone marrow?', because suppressing bone marrow proliferation is what we endeavour to do to slow CLL progression, whether by alternative/complementary medicine or allopathic/main stream medical means.

Given CLL is a Non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL), the second referenced paper from 2002; Exposure to pesticides as risk factor for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and hairy cell leukemia: pooled analysis of two Swedish case-control studies is of particular interest to us: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/121...

Unfortunately, these kinds of studies where (from the abstract) 'The studies were population based with cases identified from cancer registry and controls from population registry. Data assessment was ascertained by questionnaires supplemented over the telephone by specially trained interviewers.' are not considered to provide strong evidence due to the inherent difficulties with self reporting. I'm sure we can all identify with this after our CLL diagnosis, when we think back to try and work out what may have caused our CLL. This is why specially trained interviewers are required, to minimise any bias in responses.

Neil

[Drayton1]

There is no difference between GM and " natural selection" in terms of DNA changes so I cannot see why a GM food should have any adverse effect- and indeed if GM reduces the need for chemical pesticides and fungicides it can only be a good development!

Drayton1

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

I'll take GMO free please. GM is not the same as natural selection.

[mgh348]

It is my understanding that GMO strains of crops such as corn and soy were developed to make them resistant to the chemicals that they are doused with while growing. It's not just the issue of being genetically modified, which is questionable, but also the fact that they are "Roundup ready", to be sprayed with glyphosate containing chemicals.

[ChicagoDave]

In the US we've been eating GMO grains and corn for close to 100 years. Anyone driving through the Midwest will be familiar with the Dekalb (corn) signs along the roads where that's what is planted.

The methods of creating GMO products have changed and been refined over the years but you should be aware much of our food supply is GMO.

I agree we should know what we're eating? But I'm also aware modern farming exists on a foundation of GMO,

[mgh348 in reply to ChicagoDave]

A good reason to not eat grains.