Health of cows with glyphosate-linked chronic botulism improved
 

Prof Monika Kruger has previously shown that glyphosate residues in cattle feed can predispose cattle to botulism by suppressing friendly bacteria in the gut and encouraging the growth of the bacteria responsible for botulism.

Now she has published a paper showing that it is possible to reverse some of the toxic effects of glyphosate by supplementing cows’ diets with charcoal, sauerkraut juice, and humic acid (an ingredient of humus, the organic matter in soil). The supplements stimulated the immune system and improved the health of cows suffering from chronic botulism.

It sounds like the kind of prescription a human patient might get from a naturopathic doctor – indeed humic acid supplements for humans appear to be increasingly popular online.

There’s more about Prof Kruger’s work here.

A separate study by Prof GE Seralini and team found that some of the toxic effects of Roundup and other environmental pollutants on human cells could be prevented or cured in part by plant extracts.

Meanwhile an EU project called Marlon aims to develop a system for post-market monitoring of the effects of GM feed on animals. It apparently started in 2012 and is due to complete its work this year. It remains to be seen whether it will be worthwhile or merely a window-dressing exercise.

Oral Application of Charcoal and Humic Acids Influence Selected Gastrointestinal Microbiota, Enzymes, Electrolytes, and Substrates in the Blood of Dairy Cows Challenged with Glyphosate in GMO Feeds

Henning Gerlach, Achim Gerlach, Wieland Schrödl, Svent Haufe, Bernd Schottdorf, Awad A. Shehata, and Monika Krüger
J Environ Anal Toxicol 2014, 5:2
doi: 10.4172/2161-0525.1000256

Abstract

The present study was initiated to investigate the influence of oral application of charcoal, sauerkraut juice and humic acids on specific gastrointestinal microbiota and selected enzymes, electrolytes, and substrates in the blood of dairy cows fed GMO feeds containing glyphosate. A total of 380 Schleswig Holstein cows suffering from symptoms of chronic botulism were fed sequentially with 400 g/animal charcoal daily for 4 weeks (weeks 1-4 of the study), 200 g/ animal charcoal (weeks 5-10 of the study), 200 g charcoal and 500 ml Sauerkraut juice/animal (weeks 11-14 of the study), 120 g/animal humic acids (weeks 15-18 of the study) 200 g charcoal and 100 mL Aquahumin/animal (weeks 19-20 the of study), or 100 g charcoal and 50 mL Aquahumin (weeks 21-22 of the study) followed by 4 weeks without any supplementation. There was a significant reduction of glyphosate in urine following supplementation with a combination of 200g charcoal plus either 500 mL sauerkraut juice or humic acid. From all of the parameters investigated in blood and urine, distinctive effects were only seen as a lack of manganese and cobalt and a significant reduction of creatinine excretion by urine. All other measured parameters such as creatine kinase (CK), alkaline phosphatase (AP), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), and cholesterol, urea, and blood creatinine) were not significantly changed. A significant increase of fecal Gram-negative bacteria and enterococci were only seen at week 8 (200 g charcoal/d) and week 20 (200 g charcoal+100 mL Aquahumin). In conclusion, a charcoal-sauerkraut juice combination and humic acids reduced glyphosate excretion by urine and led to the improved health of animals.