Zeranol


 * Zeranol** is the synthetic derivative of Zearalenone, both are estrogenic compounds that cattle and swine in the U.S. meat industry are exposed. Natural sources of this chemical come from the contamination of feed sources, including corn silage and hay, the fungus Fusarium (this is an active producer of the chemical. The contamination of food by zearalenone and its breakdown products has been linked with the development of precocious puberty, which is a known risk factor for breast cancer in young girls. These compounds have also been shown to rapidly increase the ER+ human breast tumor cells through estrogen-mediated pathways and activation of gene profiles similar to those activated by the natural hormone estradiol. Zeranol is a potent non steroidal growth promoter that mimics many of the effects of estradiol. It is also used extensively in the United States and Canada to promote rapid and more efficient growth rates in animals used as sources of meat. Adding zeranol to cultured breast epithelial cells led to enhanced cell proliferation, an enzyme whose activity is often increased in cancerous tissues.



Obese individuals may be at greater risk of developing zeranol-induced breast cancer A series of studies examined estrogenic activity in normal breast epithelial calls and breast cancer cells treated with Zeranol. Abnormal cell growth was significant even at zeranol levels almost 30 times lower then the FDA established limit in beef. Follow up work demonstrated that zeranol is comparable to natural estrogen and the synthetic estrogen.