Breast Growth Supplements With Zearalenone: Are They Safe?
Key takeaways:
Since no research has been done on zearalenone supplements in people, there is no evidence on their safety or efficacy.
Studies on zearalenone in animals show concerning effects on reproductive health.
Zearalenone is a toxic chemical produced by fungus. It can contaminate grains like corn and wheat and cause hyperestrogenism (excessive estrogen in the body) in farm animals.
Since hyperestrogenism can cause breast enlargement, zearalenone is sometimes used in herbal “bust-enhancing” supplements.
But because this potent toxin can bind to estrogen receptors, it may cause dangerous side effects, especially for people with hormone-sensitive cancers.
Hormone receptors are proteins found in and on cells in the body, including breast cells. When a breast cancer has hormone receptors, estrogen, progesterone, or both can make the cancer grow and spread
The research on zearalenone
There haven’t been any clinical trials or scientific studies on zearalenone or other herbal “breast-enhancing” supplements, so there’s no evidence that they increase breast size — or that they’re safe.
Studies in cells and animals
Zearalenone was originally discovered when researchers isolated it from moldy corn after farmers reported that their livestock had swollen or inflamed vulvas, mammary glands, and testicles. Not many studies in cells have been published.
A note about animal and cell studies
Studies in cells and animals are called preclinical studies because they’re done before any studies involving people. They are critical to developing new treatments for breast cancer. But just because a treatment works in a test tube or a mouse doesn't mean it will work in people. When a treatment enters a human body, it interacts with various systems, including the immune system. Experiments on cancer cells in a dish or a mouse can’t replicate those human conditions. This is why early results from preclinical studies can be promising and exciting, but don’t always lead to new treatments for people.
When grain or feed is contaminated by zearalenone, farm animals, especially pigs and sheep, experience infertility, birth defects, and other reproductive issues.
Scientists have hypothesized that this happens when zearalenone binds to estrogen receptors, causing endocrine disruption.
Safety, risks, and side effects of “breast-enhancing” supplements
Since there isn’t any data from clinical trials, there are no officially reported side effects of supplements containing zearalenone.
Other ingredients commonly found in herbal supplements that claim to increase breast size include saw palmetto, dong quai, chaste-tree berry, wild yam, fennel kava, fenugreek, and black cohosh.
Though many of these ingredients are safe, others may:
interfere with some cancer treatment medications
signal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer to grow
increase the risk of liver damage
Because of the lack of research on zearalenone in people, doctors will never recommend you take a supplement that contains it, whether or not you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer.