Cottonseed and Fertility
From Toxicology Vol 36 No 5, May 1998
Cottonseed contains toxins that harm male fertility, according to an article in
the medical journal Toxicology. The latest research suggests that Gossypol, a
potent male contraceptive found in cottonseed, may harm the Sertoli cells that
are crucial for healthy sperm creation. Two Chinese studies have looked at the
relationship between cotton and infertility: one study showed a correlation
between ingesting raw cottonseed oil and male infertility; the other showed
that rural cotton farmers were more likely to be infertile than the general
rural population. Farmers who raise livestock have known for years that
cottonseed feedstuffs can disrupt pregnancy, and early embryo development
in female animals, and can cause sperm immotility and depressed sperm counts
in males. All of these findings suggest avoiding things that contain, or have
come into contact with, cottonseed products.
Cottonseed oil is used in many processed foods, so check your ingredients carefully.
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