Feeding trials in organic food quality and health research

Abstract

Feeding experiments comparing organically and conventionally produced food are performed to assess the overall impact on the animals' health as a model for the effects experienced by the human consumers. These experiments are based on systems research and characterized by their focus on production methods, whole food testing and procedures in accordance with the terms of organic farming. A short review of such experiments shows that the majority of these tests revealed effects of the organically produced feed on health parameters such as reproductive performance and immune responses. Systems research is not just about simple cause-effect chains, but rather about the pluralism of interactions in biological networks; therefore, the interpretation of the outcome of whole food experiments is difficult. Furthermore, the test diets of organic and conventional origin can be constituted in different ways, compensating for or maintaining existing differences in nutrient and energy contents. The science-based results suggest positive influences from organic feeds, but there is still a need for confirmation in animals and, finally, in humans. For this purpose animal feeding trials with feed from different production systems should be conducted, with the aims to define health indicators and to establish biomarkers as a basis for future dietary intervention studies in humans.

Can Agricultural Cultivation Methods Influence the Healthfulness of Crops for Foods?

“…6,10 Few well-designed animal or human studies with clear health biomarkers looking at nutrition-related health effects have been performed. 1,18 No systematic nutrition-related health effects have been established either; however, some studies have shown that immunological parameters and growth might be sensitive to effects from cultivation systems. 14,21,22,42 Cultivation Methods Effect on Nutritional Quality and Health Biomarkers.…”

Nutrition-related health effects of organic foods: a systematic review

“…For example, the International Research Association for Organic Food Quality and Health aims to develop novel methods to study the effect of organic food on human health and has recently provided some useful guidelines on study design (28). Furthermore, ongoing work on animal models (29) may prove exceptionally helpful in providing insights for better targeted outcomes that may be relevant to human public health.…”

Contribution of Organically Grown Crops to Human Health

“…In different animal experiments, investigated effects of organic or conventional feed have mainly concerned two areas; fertility/reproduction and the immune system. Early studies, starting as early as 1926, investigated the outcome when organic fertilizers were compared with mineral, and found differences in growth rate (rats, two studies), pup survival rate (mice), reproduction (chicken), and fertility (bulls, rabbits), though three studies found no differences in growth rate or fertility [141]. Similarly, more recent studies have found differences on animals fed with organic versus conventionally grown feed, although in some studies no significant differences were observed.…”