Monsanto’s Roundup, Glyphosate Found to Disturb Hormonal Balance

A group of scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IIS) has researched the commonly used herbicide, Roundup, and found that it damages the endocrine system and disrupts hormonal balance in rats.

Prof Medhamurthy Rudraiah at MRDG, IISC, and his student Aparamita Pandey say that Roundup can cause imbalances in the synthesis of steroid hormones in male rats. Their paper on the subject was recently published in the journal Toxicology Reports.

Monsanto’s Roundup primarily kills weeds by inhibiting enzymes that synthesize aromatic amino acids (the basic building blocks that make up proteins) essential for plant development.

Most mammals, including humans, do not make the enzymes that would allow us to synthesize these aromatic amino acids. This is largely why Monsanto has claimed that Roundup is considered ‘safe and non-toxic.’ Recent studies, however, have suggested that glyphosate, the primary constituent of Roundup, could be a carcinogen, and could affect the development of the fetus as well as disrupt hormonal functioning.

A correlation study published in the Journal of Organic Systems has even linked glyphosate, the primary ingredient in Monsanto’s best-selling herbicide Roundup, to an enormous increase in chronic diseases across the United States.

Even low exposure rates of as little as 10 mg per kilogram of body weight in rats decreased their testosterone levels and corticosterone secretions. The researchers also found that the effects of Roundup seem to be caused by a decrease in the synthesis or release of the hormone ACTH (Adreno-Cortico-Tropic Hormone) from the pituitary gland.

Without ACTH, the adrenal glands are dead in the water – unable to stimulate corticosterone hormone production. When rats exposed to Roundup were injected with ACTH preparation, the deficiency of corticosterone was overcome.

Arun Gopalakrishnan of Public Affairs in Monsanto, told India Express who first published the findings:

“Unless we have a chance to study the report in detail, it would not be fair for us to comment. We will study the report in detail.”

Likely, considering Monsanto’s entire department dedicated to debunking scientists who find fault with their products, the company is busy trying to eliminate the obvious connection between the study on rats and a known effect of Roundup to cause ‘adrenal insufficiency’ in human beings.

This type of hormonal disruption could lead to the potentially-fatal condition which causes fatigue, anorexia, sweating, anxiety, shaking, nausea, heart palpitations, and weight loss.

Scientists have noticed that increasing levels of Roundup in the environment have caused serious endocrine-disrupting health concerns:

“A progressive increase in its prevalence has been observed in humans, while a very few studies relating to xenobiotic exposure and adrenal insufficiency development have been reported.”