BAREILLY: Fresh cow urine may contain potentially harmful bacteria and is not suitable for direct human consumption, research carried out by Bareilly-based ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), the country's premier animal research body, has revealed.
Urine of buffalo was more effective on certain bacteria though, the research added.
The study led by Bhoj Raj Singh of the institute along with three PhD students, found that
urine samples from healthy cows and bulls contained at least 14 types of harmful bacteria with the presence of Escherichia coli, which can cause stomach infections, most commonly detected.
The findings of the peer-reviewed research have been published in online research website, Researchgate.
Singh, who heads the department of epidemiology at the institute, told TOI: "Statistical analysis of 73 urine samples of cow, buffaloes and humans suggest that antibacterial activity in buffalo urine was far more superior than cows. Urine of buffalo was significantly more effective on bacteria like S Epidermidis and E Rhapontici."
‘In no case can urine be recommended for human consumption’He added: “We collected urine samples of three types of cows -- Sahiwal, Tharparkar and Vindavani (cross breed) from local dairy farms -- along with samples of buffaloes and humans. Our study, carried out between June and November 2022, concluded that a sizeable proportion of urine samples from apparently healthy individuals carry potentially pathogenic bacteria.
The urine of some individuals, irrespective of sex and breeder species, might be inhibitory to a select group of bacteria but the common belief, that cow urine is antibacterial, can’t be generalised. In no case can urine be recommended for human consumption.” He added that "some people put forth the contention that distilled urine doesn’t have infectious bacteria." "We are carrying further research on it,” he said.
Notably, cow urine is widely sold in the Indian market without the food safety and standards authority of India (FSSAI) trademark by many suppliers. Meanwhile, former director of IVRI, RS Chauhan, told TOI: “I have been researching cow urine for 25 years and we have found that distilled cow urine improves immunity of humans and helps against cancer and Covid. This particular research was not done on distilled urine samples which we recommend people to actually consume."