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December 2007

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Press release:

Report “Organic, More Healthy? A search for biomarkers” presented to Minister Verburg, Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality

Organic feed makes the immune system more alert

DRIEBERGEN – DECEMBER 14th 2007. Organic feed leads to a more alert immune system. Chicken, fed with organic feed, showed a lower weight and a stronger recovery of their weight gain after an immunological challenge. These remarkable differences are the main findings in the study “Organic, More Healthy? A search for biomarkers of potential health effects induced by organic products, investigated in a chicken model”. This research was conducted by the Louis Bolk Institute in cooperation with Wageningen UR, RIKILT Institute for food safety and TNO, in dialogue with the International Research Association for Organic Food Quality and Health, FQH.
The study was financed by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Rabobank and Triodos Bank. The report was presented December 13th to the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Mrs. Gerda Verburg.

Most studies on organic food are dealing with differences in nutrient contents of organic versus conventional products. Much less studies have focussed on potential differences in health effects. The present study is the first experimental study in the Netherlands in which the effects of feed derived from organic or conventional origin were studied, using animals as a model for humans. Two generations of chicken as well as the feed, especially composed out of organically or conventionally produced ingredients, were extensively studied, using several most modern techniques. Various differences in nutrient content were observed in the ingredients. Most consistent finding was a difference in protein content, resulting on average in a 10% higher protein content in the conventionally produced feeds.

Results also revealed biomarkers for future research: body weight gain, responsiveness of the immune system, metabolic reactions in blood and liver and genetic regulation in the gut. With these biomarkers, clear differences between the two groups of chicken were found. For research on health effects in humans, which is the ultimate goal, it is important to have appropriate biomarkers which can measure health effects in healthy individuals.

To be able to draw more definite conclusions the concept of “health” and its related physiology and immunology, should be based on solid conventions which are currently still lacking. However, the researchers made a careful interpretation of the current results by stating that organic food may possibly contribute to the maintenance of a good health.

Machteld Huber, M.D., project leader of the study “Organic, More Healthy?” states:
“The Netherlands have, with this project, performed the largest experimental study until now in the field of organic food and health. The results are significant, though not all data can be interpreted yet. It is a fact that we found these differences, which gives a clear indication that we are on the right track towards an answer to the question “Organic, more healthy?”. Apart from the immunological findings, I find the better recovery of the organically fed animals after a challenge meaningful. From a medical point of view this is called catch-up growth. For infants this would be valuable information. It is clear that follow up research is needed before univocal conclusions can be drawn.”

Prof. Huub Savelkoul, professor in cell biology and immunology at Wageningen University states: “This research has provided an important perspective and makes follow up research necessary. In the end, this follow up research should make clear whether statements can be made about a possible effect of organic food on human health. Interestingly, the current findings showed that differences in the origin of the feed do exist, and result in small but measurable immune effects in healthy animals. This is new and opens up possibilities for future application of the techniques used, in human nutritional research. Up to now, effects from nutrition could only be determined in sick or severely stressed animals.”

The researchers advice that further research is necessary and should be dedicated to effects of organic food on humans. However, before this is due, further research should be performed, first in chicken and then in mammals, before the step to humans can be made.

For further information about this study, contact the Louis Bolk Institute, Geza Mobers, dept. Communication +31-343-523 860 or +31-6-110 142 31. She can arrange contact and interviews with project leader Machteld Huber, M.D. or other researchers. To order the research report, please send an e-mail to publicaties@louisbolk.nl mentioning the ordering nr. M22. Website: www.louisbolk.nl