The relationship between uterine fibroids and dairy, especially organic homogenized whole milk products, has been filled with contradictions and conflicting analyses. No one really understands why fibroids occur, however, there have been some studies that correlate high levels of estrogen and fibroid formation. Some studies indicate that consuming milk, especially by African American women, has been beneficial in preventing fibroids. Others find that the estrogen found in milk actually aid in the formation of fibroids in young women. Still others find that any kind of milk has no affect on whether a woman develops or has fibroids.
Fibroids
Fibroids, also known as myomas, leiomyomas, and leiomyomata uteri, are usually non-cancerous tumors that form in the uterus in pre-menopausal women. After menopause, the incidence of fibroids in the uterus decreases, so this has led researchers from the Mayo Clinic and the U.S. government to the assumption that estrogen and other hormones may be a factor in the formation of these tumors. During pregnancy, when estrogen levels in a woman's body are high, there appears to be a greater incidence of fibroids. After pregnancy and menopause fibroid incidence lessens, leading to the conclusion that hormones, especially estrogen, are elements in their formation.
Incidence of Fibroids
Fibroids occur in up to 80 percent of women, with African American women having the most incidences of these benign tumors. A woman may develop one or many tumors and have no symptoms, or may experience pain or heavy periods. In some severe cases, a woman may need surgery ranging from simple laparoscopy to a radical hysterectomy, depending on the size and severity of the fibroids. Most fibroids are small, and do not necessitate any attention, however, some may be cancerous and need treatment.
Organic Homogenized Whole Milk
Certified organic milk, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, must not contain any bovine growth hormone, must be antibiotic and pesticide-free, and cows must graze on grass and not just fed on grains. Homogenized whole milk has its fat globules mixed throughout the milk and reduced in size. However, there are still significant amounts of estrogen in milk, organic or otherwise, to raise concerns that dairy can be deleterious to health. There is no apparent difference between the amounts of estrogen in the organic and non-organic milk. While most studies have concentrated on the affect of milk on cancer, the presence of estrogen in organic whole milk may have implications on the creation of fibroids.
Pros and Cons
In 2010, a Boston University study found that African American women benefited from consuming three to four dairy products daily to lower the incidence of fibroid formation. There is no analogous study for white and Asian women. However, since 80 percent of African Americans are lactose-intolerant, consuming this much organic milk or dairy products may prove difficult.
Further Studies Needed
Since no one actually knows how fibroids are formed or what external factors participate in their formation, the link between organic homogenized whole milk and fibroids is tenuous. Natural estrogens, such as those found in milk, are 100,000 times more potent than those found in pesticides, according to the 2006 Harvard study. Additional research needs to be conducted to fully understand how organic homogenized milk relates to fibroids.
References
- American Journal of Epidemiolgy: A Prospective Study of Dairy Intake and Risk of Uterine Leiomyomata (2010)
- Journal of Dairy Science: Estrone and 17beta-estradiol concentrations in pasteurized-homogenized milk and commercial dairy products. (2010)
- Women’s Health.gov: Uterine Fibroids Fact Sheet
- MSNBC.com: Organic Milk: Are The Benefits Worth The Cost?
- Mayo Clinic.com: Uterine Fibroids
- Harvard University Gazette: Hormones in Milk Can Be Dangerous
