Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most commonly occurring trichothecenes, produced mainly by Fusarium graminearum. Little is known about the effect of DON exposure or the levels of DON exposure that occur during pregnancy. The project aimed to provide data on levels of total DON and de-epoxi Deoxynivalenol (DOM-1) in pregnant human urine samples analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Morning urine samples were collected over two consecutive days from 42 volunteers and associated food consumption was recorded for the 24 h prior to the sample. Spearman’s rho non-parametric test for correlation was used to assess the data. Levels of DON did not differ significantly between day 1 (mean 29.7 ng/mL urine or 40.1 ng DON/mg creatinine) and day 2 (mean 28.7 ng/mL urine or 38.8 ng DON/mg creatinine ng/mL/day) urine samples. The only significant positive correlation was found between total ng DON/mg creatinine and parity (rho = 0.307, n = 42, p < 0.005 two-tailed) and total ng DON/mg creatinine with baked goods on day 1 (rho = 0.532, n = 42, p < 0.0005 two-tailed). This study provides data on the DON levels in pregnancy in this suburban population and reassurance that those levels are within acceptable limits.
Highlights
Moulds of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium naturally occur in grains and produce mycotoxins that can contaminate cereal-based food and foodstuffs
Little is known about the effect of DON exposure during pregnancy on the human foetus or the levels of DON exposure that occur during pregnancy
The majority of females were in the second trimester of pregnancy (n = 23) with a mean gestational age of 26 weeks
Summary
Moulds of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium naturally occur in grains and produce mycotoxins that can contaminate cereal-based food and foodstuffs. Deoxynivalenol (DON) belongs to a large group of mycotoxins named trichothecenes, which represent the main group of Fusarium. Toxins 2016, 8, 306 toxins commonly found in cereal grains. Exposure assessment is an essential part of a risk assessment of xenobiotic compounds (e.g., mycotoxins) through diets containing contaminated food. Cereal-based foodstuffs are considered a major contributor to DON exposure. The evaluation of DON and DON metabolites in urine may constitute a valuable indicator of the dietary exposure. On the basis of the available information derived from the toxicity studies, a temporary tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 1 μg/kg body weight (b.w.) was established by the EU Scientific Committee on Food [1]
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