LACTNET Archives

Lactation Information and Discussion

LACTNET@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Nikki Lee <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 29 May 1998 21:47:57 EDT
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (35 lines)
Hi Everybody:
    There have been some interesting speculations about fertility and
breastfeeding on LACTNET lately. Here's some other ideas for consideration.
    Michel Odent speculates that prenatal exposure to environmental toxins and
estrogen-mimicking chemicals may predispose a fetus towards breast cancer
and/or inferility.
    Dr. Shafig Rahimova in Azerbijan discovered that of a group of women
infertile because they had hyperprolactinemia, 3/4 had not been breastfed.
    All of the 9 infant formulae sold in Britain a few years ago had phthlates
in them. Phthlates are chemical residues and environmental toxins, and have
been found to reduce sperm counts in rats by 10-15%.
     The Setchell study in Lancet, July 5,1997, found levels of plant
estrogens (phytoestrogens) in infants fed exclusively on soy formula to be
6-11 times higher than levels exerting a bioactive effect in an adult woman.
Levels of soy compounds were found to be 13,000 to 22,000 times higher in the
exclusive soy formula-fed infant than plasma oestradiol concentrations in
early life.This study was funded in part by Wyeth. The comment is made that
"there may also be long-term benefits from exposing infants to soy formulas
because this may confer some protection later in life against the
predispositions to hormone-dependent diseases."  (pretty amazing comment,
dontcha think?) Later in, the statement is made that the safety of soy-
formulas remains controversial.
     Sperm counts are dropping all around the world. (Not that this is a birth
control method!) Sperm banks in some parts of the world have found a 50%
reduction in sperm from samples obtained 50 years ago.
     Those of us born in the 40s and 50s are the forefront of the chemical
generation. "Better living through chemistry." was a slogan when I was growing
up. Chemical fertilizers, insecticides, plastics, and more. All this chemistry
is now beginning to show its shadow side. Pollutants frequently create impact
on the reproductive system...remember the birds who nearly became extinct
because their eggshells were too thin? They had been eating foods contaminated
by insecticides. (Rachel Carson wrote the book Silent Spring, about 35 years
ago which is worth reading again now.) This information is scary. Thank
goodness we can breastfeed! Warmly, Nikki

ATOM RSS1 RSS2