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CommentaryMeat and Dairy Should Not Be Used to Boost Odds of Having Twins This letter to the editor ran May 29, 2006, in the Macon Telegraph. To the Editor: Women considering pregnancy may want to avoid meat and dairy products in favor of healthier protein-rich foods, according to a new study in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine. Results showed that women on a plant-based diet had twins at one-fifth the rate of women who consumed milk and meat, possibly because of the insulin-like growth hormone (IGF-1) found in animal products.
But some have missed the point of this study. Meat and dairy should not be used to boost the odds of having twins. IGF-1 can increase ovulation, but it can also increase cancer cell growth. Swedish researchers who measured plasma samples in men found that those with prostate cancer had significantly higher levels of IGF-I than healthy participants. Another study showed that the addition of three daily, eight-ounce servings of nonfat or 1 percent milk for 12 weeks caused a 10 percent rise in IGF-I levels.
Women who want to protect themselves and their pregnancies from these additional hormones should reach for healthier, less risky options, such as vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables and low-fat, cholesterol-free beans and whole grains.
Sincerely,
Jennifer K. Reilly, R.D.
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