Animal studyindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-CHK-121 standard review

Egyptian experiment: hormone pills made chickens heavier and stressed the liver

Effect of oestrogenic compounds on performance and biochemical parameters of chickens in Egypt.

Overview

Badr MO et al.. Vet Ital 2009 · PMID 20391405

In 60 chickens, oral contraceptive hormones increased weight and liver enzymes and left residues.

Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: very low

Study explained simply

What did the researchers want to find out?: What are the effects of orally given oestrogenic contraceptive drugs on chicken growth, biochemistry and tissue residues?
How was the study done?: Experimental feeding study (3 groups x 20 chickens)
How many people, animals or samples were studied?: 60 chickens
What was actually found?: Both drugs caused a gain in body weight; ALT +410% and +300%, AST +278% and +262%, creatinine +62% and +42%; oestrogen residues higher in liver (+26% and +71%) and muscle (+17.5% and +43%) vs controls; some changes not significant 15 days after stopping.
How large was the observed effect?: Both drugs caused a gain in body weight; ALT +410% and +300%, AST +278% and +262%, creatinine +62% and +42%; oestrogen residues higher in liver (+26% and +71%) and muscle (+17.5% and +43%) vs controls; some changes not significant 15 days after stopping.
What do the results mean in everyday life?: Hormones can work in chickens in an experiment, but this does not show farms use them.
What are the study's limitations?: Small; methods for residues not described in abstract; PubMed labels it 'Duplicate Publication'; Does not show use in practice
What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?: Weakens the argument that hormones would not work; does not show hormonised chicken exists.
Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?: EU bans such use.
What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?: Cannot estimate any real-world use.

Authors: Badr MO et al.
Journal: Vet Ital
Year: 2009
Identifier: PMID 20391405
Verification: verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26 (no DOI; Crossref not applicable)
Retracted: no
Corrections: PubMed publication type 'Duplicate Publication' (duplicate of an earlier report; original not identified)
Extent checked: abstract only
Conflicts of interest and funding: not stated in abstract

What are the effects of orally given oestrogenic contraceptive drugs on chicken growth, biochemistry and tissue residues?

Study design: Animal study – Experimental feeding study (3 groups x 20 chickens)
Population: 15-day-old chickens
Country: Egypt
Period: not stated
Sample size: 60 chickens
Inclusion and exclusion criteria: as described in the abstract

Exposure / intervention: Nordette (1 mg/kg bw in ration) or LutoFolone (0.5 mg/kg bw orally) daily for 30 days
Comparator: Untreated controls
Endpoints: Body weight, serum biochemistry, oestrogen/progesterone residues in liver and muscle
Statistical methods: as reported in the abstract

Results: Both drugs caused a gain in body weight; ALT +410% and +300%, AST +278% and +262%, creatinine +62% and +42%; oestrogen residues higher in liver (+26% and +71%) and muscle (+17.5% and +43%) vs controls; some changes not significant 15 days after stopping.
Absolute risks: not reported
Authors' conclusion: Anabolic agents in chickens may carry a specific risk to public health.

Shows that oral hormones can raise weight in chickens experimentally; no evidence of farm use.

Tests the feasibility of hormonal growth promotion in chickens; relevant to the 'impractical/ineffective' argument.

In 60 chickens, oral contraceptive hormones increased weight and liver enzymes and left residues.

Multidimensional assessment
Multidimensional assessment
Authenticity of the source	verified
Methodological quality	very low
Risk of bias	high
Precision of results	low
Directness	indirect
Reproducibility	not replicated
Consistency with the overall evidence	consistent
Regional transferability	low
Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)	not applicable