The role of biomarkers in evaluating human health concerns from fungal contaminants in food

Nutrition Research Reviews

Mariyam Ali¹  Paul C. Turner¹  James Pestka¹  Brenna Flannery¹  Catherine Isitt¹ 

关键词: Aflatoxin;    Deoxynivalenol;    Fumonisin;    Mycotoxin;    Growth;    Children;    Cancer;   

DOI  :  10.1017/S095442241200008X

学科分类：卫生学

来源: Cambridge University Press

【 摘 要 】

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites that globally contaminate an estimated 25 % of cereal crops and thus exposure is frequent in many populations. Aflatoxins, fumonisins and deoxynivalenol are amongst those mycotoxins of particular concern from a human health perspective. A number of risks to health are suggested including cancer, growth faltering, immune suppression and neural tube defects; though only the demonstrated role for aflatoxin in the aetiology of liver cancer is widely recognised. The heterogeneous distribution of mycotoxins in food restricts the usefulness of food sampling and intake estimates; instead biomarkers provide better tools for informing epidemiological investigations. Validated exposure biomarkers for aflatoxin (urinary aflatoxin M1, aflatoxin–N7-guaunine, serum aflatoxin–albumin) were established almost 20 years ago and were critical in confirming aflatoxins as potent liver carcinogens. Validation has included demonstration of assay robustness, intake v. biomarker level, and stability of stored samples. More recently, aflatoxin exposure biomarkers are revealing concerns of growth faltering and immune suppression; importantly, they are being used to assess the effectiveness of intervention strategies. For fumonisins and deoxynivalenol these steps of development and validation have significantly advanced in recent years. Such biomarkers should better inform epidemiological studies and thus improve our understanding of their potential risk to human health.

【 授权许可】

Unknown