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Organic Foods and (Child) Health

Organic Foods and (Child) Health. Jonathan Gabor, M.Sc., M.D. February 9 th , 2010 Growing-Up-Organic Seminar. Declaration of Interests. No funding or honoraria received from organic food producers, distributors, or corporations This presentation is voluntary and unpaid

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Organic Foods and (Child) Health

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  1. Organic Foods and (Child) Health Jonathan Gabor, M.Sc., M.D. February 9th, 2010 Growing-Up-Organic Seminar

  2. Declaration of Interests • No funding or honoraria received from organic food producers, distributors, or corporations • This presentation is voluntary and unpaid • Vegan since 1997; vast majority of food I consume is organic, and local & fair-trade where available

  3. Outline • Barriers to physician acceptance of organic food • Barriers to patient use of organic food • Pesticide Exposure – Theory or Fact? • Nutritional Quality of Organic Foods • Summary and Questions

  4. Why do most physicians not routinely endorse organic foods? • Limited nutrition training during medical school • Limited time; focus on more conventional/significant risk factor modification • Priority is to ensure adequate consumption of macro- and micronutrients; “quality” may be of lesser concern • Lack of familiarity with current evidence supporting organic food

  5. Common Barriers to Increased Organic Food Consumption • Lack of knowledge of benefits • Concern over authenticity • Concern over expense • Questions regarding availability & quality • Trust in regulatory authorities

  6. Pesticide Exposure • Dietary intake is the predominant source of pesticide exposure for infants and children • Previous studies measured pesticide concentrations in foods and only occasionally in study subjects • More recent studies not only confirm greater pesticide levels but also that substitution to organic diets causes a large and immediate drop in these levels Environ Health Perspect. 2006 February; 114(2): 260–263

  7. Determinants of Risk • Quantity and number of pesticides applied • Toxicity of the particular pesticide(s) used • Amount of given food consumed • Weight of the child (determines concentration) • Potential for synergy between multiple compounds • Type of food (meat, dairy, fruit) and origin

  8. Most Common Toxic Effects • Nervous System • Carcinogenesis • Endocrine • Absorption/Exposure Sites (Skin, Eyes, Resp)

  9. A (rational) approach to pesticide toxicity • Pesticides are designed to disrupt the growth of fungi, weeds, insects, etc. • These substances are obviously toxic to humans in large doses (e.g. accidental exposure) • The issue here is chronic, low (?) dose exposure over a prolonged period and in vulnerable groups (i.e. children – smaller body weight, developing organs)

  10. A (rational) approach to pesticide toxicity • “Safe” limits have been established by food regulatory agencies • These limits are established in a variety of ways • Nevertheless, sampling and extrapolation have demonstrated that these limits are at times exceeded • Must also consider methodology, outcomes, association vs. causation, confounding variables, research ethics

  11. The “Dirty Dozen” • Peaches • Celery • Apples • Bell Peppers • Cherries • Grapes

  12. The “Dirty Dozen” • Nectarines • Pears • Potatoes • Raspberries • Spinach • Strawberries

  13. The “Cleanest” Dozen Source: Environmental Working Group • Avocado • Asparagus • Banana • Broccoli • Cauliflower • Sweet Corn • Mango • Kiwi • Onion • Papaya • Pineapple • Sweet Pea

  14. Nutritional Quality of Organic Foods • Initial studies were small-scale with few measurements • More longer-term and thorough work has added to the growing body of literature to suggest that organic foods are more “nutritionally dense” than their conventional counterparts • Still limited to several key vitamins, minerals and other antioxidants; however, consistency of results is improving • Questions regarding control of confounding variables

  15. Summary • For several reasons, organic food is not routinely endorsed by physicians nor widely accepted by patients • This situation exists despite theoretical and demonstrated pesticide accumulation, toxic effects, and poorer nutritional profiles from conventional food • Children are at greatest risk but conversely may derive greatest benefit from consuming organic foods • Current evidence, although far from complete, favours organic food more so than ever before

  16. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME …. QUESTIONS WELCOME!

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