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American academy of enviromental medicine
Genetically Modified Foods
According to the World Health Organization, Genetically Modified Organisms(
GMOs) are "organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in
such a way that does not occur naturally."1 This technology is also
referred to as "genetic engineering", "biotechnology" or "recombinant DNA
technology" and consists of randomly inserting genetic fragments of DNA from
one organism to another, usually from a different species. For example, an
artificial combination of genes that includes a gene to produce the
pesticide Cry1Ab protein (commonly known as Bt toxin), originally found in
Bacillus thuringiensis, is inserted in to the DNA of corn randomly. Both the
location of the transferred gene sequence in the corn DNA and the
consequences of the insertion differ with each insertion. The plant cells
that have taken up the inserted gene are then grown in a lab using tissue
culture and/or nutrient medium that allows them to develop into plants that
are used to grow GM food crops.2
Natural breeding processes have been safely utilized for the past several
thousand years. In contrast, "GE crop technology abrogates natural
reproductive processes, selection occurs at the single cell level, the
procedure is highly mutagenic and routinely breeches genera barriers, and
the technique has only been used commercially for 10 years."3
Despite these differences, safety assessment of GM foods has been based on
the idea of "substantial equivalence" such that "if a new food is found to
be substantially equivalent in composition and nutritional characteristics
to an existing food, it can be regarded as safe as the conventional food."4
However, several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated
with GM food consumption including infertility, immune dysregulation,
accelerated aging, dysregulation of genes associated with cholesterol
synthesis, insulin regulation, cell signaling, and protein formation, and
changes in the liver, kidney, spleen and gastrointestinal system.
There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health
effects. There is causation as defined by Hill's Criteria in the areas of
strength of association, consistency, specificity, biological gradient, and
biological plausibility.5 The strength of association and consistency
between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.2,6,7,8,
9,10,11
Specificity of the association of GM foods and specific disease processes is
also supported. Multiple animal studies show significant immune
dysregulation, including upregulation of cytokines associated with asthma,
allergy, and inflammation. 6,11 Animal studies also show altered structure
and function of the liver, including altered lipid and carbohydrate
metabolism as well as cellular changes that could lead to accelerated aging
and possibly lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). 7,8,
10 Changes in the kidney, pancreas and spleen have also been documented. 6,8
,10 A recent 2008 study links GM corn with infertility, showing a
significant decrease in offspring over time and significantly lower litter
weight in mice fed GM corn.8 This study also found that over 400 genes were
found to be expressed differently in the mice fed GM corn. These are genes
known to control protein synthesis and modification, cell signaling,
cholesterol synthesis, and insulin regulation. Studies also show intestinal
damage in animals fed GM foods, including proliferative cell growth9 and
disruption of the intestinal immune system.6
Regarding biological gradient, one study, done by Kroghsbo, et al., has
shown that rats fed transgenic Bt rice trended to a dose related response
for Bt specific IgA. 11
Also, because of the mounting data, it is biologically plausible for
Genetically Modified Foods to cause adverse health effects in humans.
In spite of this risk, the biotechnology industry claims that GM foods can
feed the world through production of higher crop yields. However, a recent
report by the Union of Concerned Scientists reviewed 12 academic studies and
indicates otherwise: "The several thousand field trials over the last 20
years for genes aimed at increasing operational or intrinsic yield (of crops
) indicate a significant undertaking. Yet none of these field trials have
resulted in increased yield in commercialized major food/feed crops, with
the exception of Bt corn."12 However, it was further stated that this
increase is largely due to traditional breeding improvements.
Therefore, because GM foods pose a serious health risk in the areas of
toxicology, allergy and immune function, reproductive health, and metabolic,
physiologic and genetic health and are without benefit, the AAEM believes
that it is imperative to adopt the precautionary principle, which is one of
the main regulatory tools of the European Union environmental and health
policy and serves as a foundation for several international agreements.13
The most commonly used definition is from the 1992 Rio Declaration that
states: "In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach
shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where
there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific
certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective
measures to prevent environmental degradation."13
Another often used definition originated from an environmental meeting in
the United States in 1998 stating: "When an activity raises threats to the
environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken, even if
some cause and effect relationships are not fully established
scientifically. In this context, the proponent of an activity, rather than
the public, should bear the burden of proof (of the safety of the activity).
"13
With the precautionary principle in mind, because GM foods have not been
properly tested for human consumption, and because there is ample evidence
of probable harm, the AAEM asks:
Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the
public to avoid GM foods when possible and provide educational materials
concerning GM foods and health risks.
Physicians to consider the possible role of GM foods in the disease
processes of the patients they treat and to document any changes in patient
health when changing from GM food to non-GM food.
Our members, the medical community, and the independent scientific
community to gather case studies potentially related to GM food consumption
and health effects, begin epidemiological research to investigate the role
of GM foods on human health, and conduct safe methods of determining the
effect of GM foods on human health.
For a moratorium on GM food, implementation of immediate long term
independent safety testing, and labeling of GM foods, which is necessary for
the health and safety of consumers.
(This statement was reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee of the
American Academy of Environmental Medicine on May 8, 2009.)
Submitted by Amy Dean, D.O. and Jennifer Armstrong, M.D.
Bibliography: Genetically Modified Foods Position Paper AAEM
World Health Organization. (Internet).(2002). Foods derived from modern
technology: 20 questions on genetically modified foods. Available from: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/index.php
Smith, JM. Genetic Roulette. Fairfield: Yes Books.2007. p.10
Freese W, Schubert D. Safety testing and regulation of genetically
engineered foods. Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews. Nov 2004.
21.
Society of Toxicology. The safety of genetically modified foods produced
through biotechnology. Toxicol. Sci. 2003; 71:2-8.
Hill, AB. The environment and disease: association or causation?
Proceeding of the Royal Society of Medicine 1965; 58:295-300.
Finamore A, Roselli M, Britti S, et al. Intestinal and peripheral immune
response to MON 810 maize ingestion in weaning and old mice. J Agric. Food
Chem. 2008; 56(23):11533-11539.
Malatesta M, Boraldi F, Annovi G, et al. A long-term study on female
mice fed on a genetically modified soybean:effects on liver ageing.
Histochem Cell Biol. 2008; 130:967-977.
Velimirov A, Binter C, Zentek J. Biological effects of transgenic maize
NK603xMON810 fed in long term reproduction studies in mice. Report-Federal
Ministry of Health, Family and Youth. 2008.
Ewen S, Pustzai A. Effects of diets containing genetically modified
potatoes expressing Galanthus nivalis lectin on rat small intestine.Lancet.
354:1353-1354.
Kilic A, Aday M. A three generational study with genetically modified Bt
corn in rats: biochemical and histopathological investigation. Food Chem.
Toxicol. 2008; 46(3):1164-1170.
Kroghsbo S, Madsen C, Poulsen M, et al. Immunotoxicological studies of
genetically modified rice expression PHA-E lectin or Bt toxin in Wistar rats
. Toxicology. 2008; 245:24-34.
Gurain-Sherman,D. 2009. Failure to yield: evaluating the performance of
genetically engineered crops. Cambridge (MA): Union of Concerned Scientists.
Lofstedt R. The precautionary principle: risk, regulation and politics.
Merton College, Oxford. 2002.
Press Advisory
May 19, 2009
Contact Information
Dr. Amy L. Dean, D.O.
Public Relations Chair
Member, Board of Directors
American Academy of Environmental Medicine
734-213-4901
e**************[email protected]
The American Academy Of Environmental Medicine Calls For
Immediate Moratorium On Genetically Modified Foods
Wichita, KS - The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) today
released its position paper on Genetically Modified foods stating that "GM
foods pose a serious health risk" and calling for a moratorium on GM foods.
Citing several animal studies, the AAEM concludes "there is more than a
casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects" and that "GM
foods pose a serious health risk in the areas of toxicology, allergy and
immune function, reproductive health, and metabolic, physiologic and genetic
health."
The AAEM calls for:
A moratorium on GM food, implementation of immediate long term safety
testing and labeling of GM food.
Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community and the
public to avoid GM foods.
Physicians to consider the role of GM foods in their patients' disease
processes.
More independent long term scientific studies to begin gathering data to
investigate the role of GM foods on human health.
"Multiple animal studies have shown that GM foods cause damage to various
organ systems in the body. With this mounting evidence, it is imperative to
have a moratorium on GM foods for the safety of our patients' and the public
's health," said Dr. Amy Dean, PR chair and Board Member of AAEM.
"Physicians are probably seeing the effects in their patients, but need to
know how to ask the right questions," said Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, President
of AAEM. "The most common foods in North America which are consumed that
are GMO are corn, soy, canola, and cottonseed oil."
The AAEM's position paper on Genetically Modified foods can be found at http
:aaemonline.org/gmopost.html.
AAEM is an international association of physicians and other professionals
dedicated to addressing the clinical aspects of environmental health. More
information is available at www.aaemonline.org.
-more-
About AAEM The American Academy of Environmental Medicine was founded in
1965, and is an international association of physicians and other
professionals interested in the clinical aspects of humans and their
environment. The Academy is interested in expanding the knowledge of
interactions between human individuals and their environment, as these may
be demonstrated to be reflected in their total health. The AAEM provides
research and education in the recognition, treatment and prevention of
illnesses induced by exposures to biological and chemical agents encountered
in air, food and water.
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