Drinking Green Tea: Despite the Risks Due to Mycotoxins, Is It Possible to Increase the Associated Health Benefits?

Tea has been consumed for thousands of years. Despite the different varieties, particular emphasis has been placed on green tea (GT), considering the associated health benefits following its regular consumption, some of which are due to its polyphenol constituents, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Tea is not prone to the growth of microorganisms, except fungus, when proper storage, handling, and packing conditions are compromised. Consequently, mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of fungi, could contaminate tea samples, affecting human health. In the present study, we aimed to assess the balance between risks (due to mycotoxins and high levels of EGCG) and benefits (due to moderate intake of EGCG) associated with the consumption of GT. For this, 20 GT samples (10 in bulk and 10 in bags) available in different markets in Lisbon were analyzed through a LC-MS/MS method, evaluating 38 different mycotoxins. Six samples revealed detectable values of the considered toxins. Current levels of mycotoxins and EGCG intake were not associated with health concerns. Scenarios considering an increasing consumption of GT in Portugal showed that drinking up to seven cups of GT per day should maximize the associated health benefits. The present study contributes to the future establishment of GT consumption recommendations in Portugal.

Occurrence of Free and Conjugated Mycotoxins in Aromatic and Medicinal Plants and Dietary Exposure Assessment in the Moroccan Population.

Aromatic and medicinal plants (AMPs), as herbal material, are subjected to contamination by various mycotoxin-producing fungi, either free and conjugated. Such a problem is associated with poor storage practices, and lack of adopting good agricultural practices and good harvesting practices. Nevertheless, AMPs are poorly investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the co-occurrence of 15 mycotoxins (four aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), beauvericin (BEA), four enniatins (ENA, ENA1, ENB, and ENB1), zearalenone (ZEN), alternariol (AOH), tentoxin (TENT), T-2, and HT-2 toxins) in 40 samples of AMPs frequently consumed in Morocco by using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Evaluation of conjugated mycotoxins and their identification using liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry with ion mass exact was also carried out. Results showed that 90% of the analyzed samples presented at least one mycotoxin, and 52% presented co-occurrence of them. Mycotoxins detected were: AOH (85%), ZEN (27.5%), ß-ZEL (22%), AFG1 (17.5%), TENT (17.5%), ENB (10%), AFG2 (7.5%), α-ZEL (5%), ENA1 (2.5%), and HT-2 (2.5%), while the conjugated mycotoxins were ZEN-14-Glc (11%) and ZEN-14-Sulf (9%). The highest observed level was for AOH, with 309 ng/g. Ten samples exceeded the recommended levels set by the European Pharmacopoeia for AF mycotoxins in plant material (4 ng/g), and three samples exceeded the maximum limits for AFs (10 ng/g) in species established by the European Commission. Although the co-occurrence of several mycotoxins in AMP samples was observed, the dietary exposure assessment showed that the intake of mycotoxins through the consumption of AMP beverages does not represent a risk for the population.

Presence of Mycotoxins in Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Food Supplements: A Review.

The consumption of herbal-based supplements, which are believed to have beneficial effects on human health with no side effects, has become popular around the world and this trend is still increasing. Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn, commonly known as milk thistle (MT), is the most commonly studied herb associated with the treatment of liver diseases. The hepatoprotective effects of active substances in silymarin, with silybin being the main compound, have been demonstrated in many studies. However, MT can be affected by toxigenic micro-fungi and contaminated by mycotoxins with adverse effects. The beneficial effect of silymarin can thus be reduced or totally antagonized by mycotoxins. MT has proven to be affected by micro-fungi of the Fusarium and Alternaria genera, in particular, and their mycotoxins. Alternariol-methyl-ether (AME), alternariol (AOH), beauvericin (BEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), enniatin A (ENNA), enniatin A1 (ENNA1), enniatin B (ENNB), enniatin B1 (ENNB1), HT-2 toxin (HT-2), T-2 toxin (T-2), tentoxin (TEN), and zearalenone (ZEA) seem to be most significant in MT-based dietary supplements. This review focuses on summarizing cases of mycotoxins in MT to emphasize the need for strict monitoring and regulation, as mycotoxins in relation with MT-based dietary supplements are not covered by European Union legislation.

Determination of Fungi and Multi-Class Mycotoxins in Camelia Sinensis and Herbal Teas and Dietary Exposure Assessment.

In this paper, a study of fungal and multi-mycotoxin contamination in 140 Camellia sinensis and 26 herbal teas marketed in Latvia is discussed. The analysis was performed using two-dimensional liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (2D-LC-TOF-MS) and MALDI-TOF-MS. In total, 87% of the tea samples tested positive for 32 fungal species belonging to 17 genera, with the total enumeration of moulds ranging between 1.00 × 101 and 9.00 × 104 CFU g-1. Moreover, 42% of the teas (n = 70) were contaminated by 1 to 16 mycotoxins, and 37% of these samples were positive for aflatoxins at concentrations ranging between 0.22 and 41.7 µg kg-1. Deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivatives co-occurred in 63% of the tea samples, with their summary concentrations reaching 81.1 to 17,360 µg kg-1. Ochratoxin A (OTA), enniatins, and two Alternaria toxins were found in 10-37% of the teas at low concentrations. The dietary exposure assessment based on the assumption of a probable full transfer of determined mycotoxins into infusions indicated that the analysed teas are safe for consumers: the probable maximum daily exposure levels to OTA and the combined DON mycotoxins were only 0.88 to 2.05% and 2.50 to 78.9% of the tolerable daily intake levels.

Levels of Alternaria Toxins in Selected Food Commodities Including Green Coffee.

Alternaria toxins are emerging mycotoxins, candidates for regulation by European Authorities. Therefore, highly sensitive, confirmatory, and reliable analytical methodologies are required for their monitoring in food. In that context, an isotope dilution LC-MS/MS method was developed for the analysis of five Alternaria toxins (Altenuene, Alternariol, Alternariol monomethylether, Tentoxin, and Tenuazonic Acid) in a broad range of commodities including cereals and cereal-based products, tomato-based products, tree nuts, vegetable oils, dried fruits, cocoa, green coffee, spices, herbs, and tea. Validation data collected in two different laboratories demonstrated the robustness of the method. Underestimation of Tenuazonic Acid level in dry samples such as cereals was reported when inappropriate extraction solvent mixtures were used as currently done in several published methodologies. An investigation survey performed on 216 food items evidenced large variations of Alternaria toxins levels, in line with data reported in the last EFSA safety assessment. The analysis of 78 green coffee samples collected from 21 producing countries demonstrated that coffee is a negligible source of exposure to Alternaria toxins. Its wide scope of application, adequate sample throughput, and high sensitivity make this method fit for purpose for the regular monitoring of Alternaria toxins in foods.

Oral exposure of pigs to the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol does not modulate the hepatic albumin synthesis during a LPS-induced acute-phase reaction.

The sensitivity of pigs to deoxynivalenol (DON) might be influenced by systemic inflammation (SI) which impacts liver. Besides following acute-phase proteins, our aim was to investigate both the hepatic fractional albumin (ALB) synthesis rate (FSR) and the ALB concentration as indicators of ALB metabolism in presence and absence of SI induced by LPS via pre- or post-hepatic venous route. Each infusion group was pre-conditioned either with a control diet (CON, 0.12 mg DON/kg diet) or with a DON-contaminated diet (DON, 4.59 mg DON/kg diet) for 4 wk. A depression of ALB FSR was observed 195 min after LPS challenge, independent of feeding group or LPS application route, which was not paralleled by a down-regulated ALB mRNA expression but by a reduced availability of free cysteine. The drop in ALB FSR only partly explained the plasma ALB concentrations which were more depressed in the DON-pre-exposed groups, suggesting that ALB levels are influenced by further mechanisms. The abundances of haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, pig major acute-phase protein, fibrinogen and LPS-binding protein mRNA were up-regulated upon LPS stimulation but not accompanied by increases in the plasma concentrations of these proteins, pointing at an imbalance between synthesis and consumption.

Bioactive Metabolites and Potential Mycotoxins Produced by Cordyceps Fungi: A Review of Safety.

Ascomycete Cordyceps fungi such as C.militaris, C. cicadae, and C.guangdongensis have been mass produced on artificial media either as food supplements or health additives while the byproducts of culture substrates are largely used as animal feed. The safety concerns associated with the daily consumption of Cordyceps fungi or related products are still being debated. On the one hand, the known compounds from these fungi such as adenosine analogs cordycepin and pentostatin have demonstrated different beneficial or pharmaceutical activities but also dose-dependent cytotoxicities, neurological toxicities and or toxicological effects in humans and animals. On the other hand, the possibility of mycotoxin production by Cordyceps fungi has not been completely ruled out. In contrast to a few metabolites identified, an array of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are encoded in each genome of these fungi with the potential to produce a plethora of as yet unknown secondary metabolites. Conservation analysis of BGCs suggests that mycotoxin analogs of PR-toxin and trichothecenes might be produced by Cordyceps fungi. Future elucidation of the compounds produced by these functionally unknown BGCs, and in-depth assessments of metabolite bioactivity and chemical safety, will not only facilitate the safe use of Cordyceps fungi as human food or alternative medicine, but will also benefit the use of mass production byproducts as animal feed. To corroborate the long record of use as a traditional medicine, future efforts will also benefit the exploration of Cordyceps fungi for pharmaceutical purposes.

A multicomponent mycotoxin deactivator modifies the response of the jejunal mucosal and cecal bacterial community to deoxynivalenol contaminated feed and oral lipopolysaccharide challenge in chickens1.

Mycotoxin deactivators are a widely used strategy to abrogate negative effects of mycotoxin-contaminated feed. It has not been adequately evaluated whether these deactivators may detoxify bacterial toxins in the intestinal lumen and subsequently lower the inflammatory response in chickens. The present objective was to study the effect of a multicomponent mycotoxin deactivator (B), containing a bentonite and a bacterial strain capable to enzymatically biotransform trichothecenes especially deoxynivalenol (DON), when supplemented to a DON-contaminated feed in combination with an oral lipopolysaccharide challenge on visceral organ size, expression of innate immune genes and mucosal permeability in the small intestine as well as on the cecal bacterial composition and metabolites in broiler chickens. Eighty 1-d-old male chickens were randomly allotted to four treatment groups in two replicate batches (n = 10/treatment/replicate): 1) basal diet without DON (CON), 2) CON diet supplemented with B (2.5 mg B/kg feed) (CON-B), 3) CON diet contaminated with 10 mg DON/kg feed (DON), and 4) DON diet supplemented with 2.5 mg B/kg feed (DON-B). In half of the chickens per treatment, effects were assessed under nonchallenge conditions, whereas in the other half of birds, to increase their intestinal bacterial toxin load, effects were tested after an oral challenge with 1 mg LPS/kg BW from Escherichia coli O55:B5 on the day before sampling. DON reduced (P < 0.05) the weight of bursa fabricii and thymus. DON increased the expression level of intestinal alkaline phosphatase at the duodenal mucosa (P = 0.027) but did not modify jejunal gene expression and mucosal permeability. The LPS challenge decreased the jejunal MUC2 expression but increased ZO1 and IL6 expression compared to the unchallenged animals (P < 0.05). DON × B interactions indicated lower expression of IL10 in duodenum and NFKB in jejunum with the B diet but higher expression with the DON-B diet (P = 0.050). Furthermore, the B lowered jejunal expression of NFKB and IL6 but only in LPS-challenged chickens (P < 0.05). Alterations in the cecal microbiota composition and VFA profile were likely associated with alterations in host physiology in the small intestine caused by DON, B, and LPS. According to the present data, B appeared to have potential to detoxify antigens other than DON in the intestinal lumen of chickens, whereby the toxin load may limit the efficacy of B to modify the intestinal and systemic response as indicated by interactions of DON, B, and LPS.

Effects of fed mycotoxin contaminated diets supplemented with spray-dried porcine plasma on cholinergic response and behavior in piglets.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) supplementation on cholinesterase enzymes and its relationship with animal behavior of weaning piglets exposed to mycotoxin contaminated diets. To achieve these objectives, two experimental design approaches were used. Male piglets (7.15±0.61kg) were allocated in four groups: CTL group received a regular diet; SDPP group received a regular diet and 6% SDPP; MYC group received a diet containing desired contamination of 210 µg/kg aflatoxins and 6.690 µg/kg fumonisins; group MYC+SDPP received 253 µg/kg aflatoxins, 6930 µg/kg fumonisins and 6% SDPP. The animals treated with mycotoxin co-contaminated diets showed an increase in AChE and BChE activities in peripheral system (MYC) when compared to control (CTL). Furthermore, supplementation with SDPP (MYC+SDPP group) prevented the mycotoxin-related reduction of AChE in blood and brain. Behavioral tests showed that sleeping and resting behaviors were more often observed in the MYC group; this group also fed fewer times when compared to the other groups, characterizing the deleterious effect of mycotoxins. Taken together, the data suggest changes in AChE and BChE activities may indicate alterations in cholinergic neurotransmission and consequently in the behavior of piglets.

The protective effects of modified palygorskite on the broilers fed a purified zearalenone-contaminated diet.

This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of dietary modified palygorskite (Pal) supplementation on broiler chickens fed a purified zearalenone (ZEN)-contaminated diet. A total of 144 1-day-old male chicks were allocated to one of the 3 treatments, with each treatment being composed of 6 replicates of 8 birds each. The birds were fed with a control diet (Control group), the ZEN-contaminated diet (2.0 mg ZEN/kg diet), and the ZEN-contaminated diet supplemented with 1.0 g/kg diet of modified Pal for 42 d, respectively. Compared with control group, feeding ZEN-contaminated diet reduced weight gain and feed conversion efficiency of broilers during the finisher and overall experimental period (P < 0.05), while the values of these parameters in broilers fed the diet contaminated with ZEN increased after modified Pal administration (P < 0.05). ZEN challenge increased the 21-d serum aspartate aminotransferase and 42-d serum alanine aminotransferase activities, 42-d relative liver weight, and ZEN residues in the liver at both 21 and 42 d and kidney at 42 d (P < 0.05). In contrast, birds fed the ZEN-contaminated diet that was supplemented with modified Pal exhibited lower serum alanine aminotransferase activity at 42 d, relative liver weight at 42 d, and hepatic and renal ZEN accumulation at both 21 and 42 d (P < 0.05), when compared with their counterparts fed the contaminated diet. ZEN contamination decreased superoxide dismutase activity in the serum at 21 d, kidney at 42 d, and liver at both 21 and 42 d, respectively (P < 0.05). The hepatic and renal malondialdehyde accumulation at 42 d increased, while renal glutathione level at 42 d decreased, when feeding broilers with the ZEN-contaminated diet (P < 0.05). Dietary modified Pal supplementation reduced hepatic malondialdehyde accumulation, whereas increased renal superoxide dismutase activity in broilers fed a ZEN-contaminated diet at 42 d (P < 0.05). This finding suggested that dietary modified Pal administration could promote growth performance, reduce hepatonephric ZEN residues, and improve liver function and antioxidant status of broiler chickens receiving a ZEN-contaminated diet.

Systematic review: the etiology of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in low-income settings.

INTRODUCTION: Esophageal carcinoma causes over 380 000 deaths per year, ranking sixth worldwide in mortality amongst all malignancies. Globally, the squamous cell subtype is most common and accounts for 80% of esophageal cancers. Nonetheless, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is much more poorly understood than esophageal adenocarcinoma, including what is driving such high prevalences, why it often presents in young patients, and shows such marked geographical delineations Areas covered: The current literature was searched for articles focusing on aetiopathogenesis of squamous cell esophageal carcinoma via a systematic review, particularly in low-resource settings. This was supplemented by papers of interest known to the authors. Expert commentary: Current putative mechanisms include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosamines, acetaldehyde, cyclo-oxygenase-2 pathways, androgen and their receptor levels, as well as smoking & alcohol, micronutrient deficiencies and diet, mycotoxins, thermal damage, oral hygiene and microbiotal factors, inhaled smoke, viral infections such as HPV, and chronic irritative states. Etiology is likely multifactorial and varies geographically. Though smoking and alcohol play a predominant role in high-income settings, there is strong evidence that mycotoxins, diet and temperature effects may play an under-recognized role in low and middle-income settings.

Why does Finland have the highest dementia mortality rate? Environmental factors may be generalizable.

Finland has the highest death rate from dementia in the world and its environmental features can be instructive in understanding hidden causes of dementia. Environmental factors there include: 1) a climate that is both very cold and humid resulting in housing frequently harboring molds that are capable of producing a neurotoxic mycotoxin 2) the Gulf of Finland as well as Finnish lakes harbor cyanobacteria that produce the neurotoxin, beta-N-methyl amino-L-alanine, known to cause dementia and related disorders 3) the aforementioned toxins can be potentiated by the presence of mercury and methyl mercury which can be found in Finnish waters 4) soil in Finland is naturally low in selenium and selenium deficiency may reduce the quantity and effectiveness of glutathione's ability to protect against neurotoxins. A high rate of fatal dementia could be the consequence of these environmental factors. Studies that can support or disprove this hypothesis are suggested. Such environmental toxins are likely to promote Alzheimer's disease elsewhere in the world where such a combination of neurotoxins may also occur.

Positive and negative aspects of green coffee consumption - antioxidant activity versus mycotoxins.

BACKGROUND: The quality of coffee depends not only on the contents of healthy compounds but also on its contamination with microorganisms that can produce mycotoxins during development, harvesting, preparation, transport and storage. RESULTS: The antioxidant activity of green coffee brews measured in this study by ABTS, DPPH and Folin-Ciocalteu assays showed that coffee extracts from Robusta beans possessed higher activity in all assays than extracts from Arabica beans. The occurrence of ochratoxin A and aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) in green coffee beans was studied using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Apart from mycotoxins, the content of ergosterol as a marker indicating fungal occurrence was also determined. Among aflatoxins, aflatoxin B1 was the dominant mycotoxin in coffee bean samples, with the highest level at 17.45 ng g-1 . Ochratoxin A was detected in four samples at levels ranging from 1.27 to 4.34 ng g-1 , and fungi potentially producing this toxin, namely Aspergillus oryzae, Alternaria sp., Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus tamarii and Penicillium citrinum, were isolated. CONCLUSION: Steaming and decaffeination of coffee beans increased antioxidant activities of brews in comparison with those prepared from unprocessed beans. Although toxins can be quantified in green coffee beans and novel fungi were isolated, their concentrations are acceptable according to legal limits. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Facial eczema management protocols used on dairy farms in the North Island of New Zealand and associated concentrations of zinc in serum.

AIMS: To describe and evaluate the current practices used to manage and prevent facial eczema (FE) in North Island dairy herds, and determine the within-herd prevalence of cows with elevated activities of gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and with concentrations of Zn in serum <18 µmol/L. METHODS: Between January and May 2014, 105 herd managers from throughout the North Island of New Zealand were invited to participate in the study when regional spore counts for Pithomyces chartarum started to rise towards 30,000 spores/g pasture. Managers selected 10 representative cattle that were weighed and blood-sampled by the herd veterinarian. Blood samples were analysed for concentrations of Zn in serum and GGT activity. Pasture samples were also collected and submitted for spore count estimation. Finally a survey of farm management practices relating to prevention of FE was completed by the herd manager. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to determine associations between herd-level and cow-level explanatory variables and the probability of a cow having a concentration of Zn in serum <18 µmol/L. RESULTS: Of the 1,071 cows tested, 79 (7.3 (95% CI=5.8-9.0)%) had GGT activity in serum >300 IU/L, and 35/106 (33 (95% CI=24.2-42.8)%) herds had ≥1 of the 10 cows sampled with GGT activity >300 IU/L. Of the 911 cows that were being treated with Zn, concentrations of Zn were between 18-35 µmol/L in 398 (43.6 (95% CI=40.4-46.9)%) cows, were >35 µmol/L in 32 (3.5 (95% CI=2.4-4.1)%) cows, and <18 µmol/L in 479 (52.6 (95% CI=49.3-55.9)%) cows. After adjusting for the confounding effect of region, the odds of a cow having concentrations of Zn in serum <18 µmol/L were 5.5 (95% CI=1.1-29) times greater for cows supplemented with zinc in water compared with those supplemented by drenching. Of the 105 herd managers, 103 (98%) stated that they had access to regional spore count data, but only 35/105 (33%) reported that they measured spore counts on their own farm. Overall, 98/105 (93%) managers reported that they had some form of FE management programme in place. Fungicides were used on their own or in combination with zinc treatments in 10 herds, ZnSO4 in water troughs was used in 68 herds, oral drenching with ZnO in nine herds, and ZnO supplied in-feed in 26 herds. Estimated daily dose rates of zinc were less than that required to treat a 400 kg cow on 42/68 farms that administered ZnSO4 in the water or ZnO as a drench. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study has shown that FE management on dairy farms in the North Island of New Zealand could be substantially improved. It is likely that improved FE management would occur if herd managers were provided with more feedback on the success (or otherwise) of their FE management programmes.

Dietary mycotoxins, co-exposure, and carcinogenesis in humans: Short review.

Mycotoxins, toxic secondary metabolites of fungi, affect global agriculture so prolifically that they are virtually ubiquitous at some concentration in the average human diet. Studies of in vitro and in vivo toxicity are discussed, leading to investigations of co-exposed mycotoxins, as well as carcinogenic effects. Some of the most common and toxicologically significant mycotoxins, such as the aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, patulin, zearalenone, and some ergot alkaloids are outlined. The wide variety of pathogenic mechanisms these compounds employ are shown capable of inducing a complex set of interactions. Of particular note are potential synergisms between mycotoxins with regard to carcinogenic attributable risk, indicating an important field for future study.

Efficacy of dietary spray dried plasma protein to mitigate the negative effects on performance of pigs fed diets with corn naturally contaminated with multiple mycotoxins.

The ability of spray dried plasma protein (SDPP) to reduce the negative effects of multiple mycotoxins from naturally contaminated corn on weaned pig performance and health was investigated (n = 180; 6.84 ± 0.11 kg). For 12 d after weaning, pigs were fed phase 1 nursery diets with either 0% SDPP (PP0) or 6% SDPP (PP6). After 12 d, pigs were fed phase 2 diets for 3 wk. Pigs fed PP0 in phase 1 continued to be fed a phase 2 diet with no SDPP (PP0/PP0) or were fed a diet including corn naturally contaminated with multiple mycotoxins (M), labeled PP0/PP0M. Pigs fed SDPP in phase 1 were fed either a diet with no SDPP (PP6/PP0), a diet with M and no SDPP (PP6/PP0M), a diet with M and 3% SDPP (PP6/PP3M), or a diet with M and 6% SDPP (PP6/PP6M). During phase 1, pigs fed PP6 had increased (P < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and G:F, whereas immunological parameters were not altered. During phase 2, pigs consuming PP0/PP0M had reduced ADG (P < 0.01) and ADFI (P < 0.05) in contrast to pigs fed PP0/PP0, whereas the performance of pigs fed PP6/PP0M was intermediate to pigs fed PP0/PP0M and PP6/PP0. The ADG and ADFI did not differ for pigs fed PP0/PP0M and PP6/PP0M during phase 2. Performance of pigs fed PP6/PP3M in contrast to pigs fed PP6/PP0M during phase 2 did not differ; however, these pigs had lower (P < 0.05) tumor necrosis factor α and tended (P = 0.094) to have lower DNA damage. During phase 2, ADG and ADFI of pigs fed PP6/PP6M did not differ from pigs fed PP6/PP0M, but G:F tended (P = 0.067) to be increased in pigs fed PP6/PP6M. Over the entire study period, pigs fed PP0/PP0M had reduced (P < 0.05) ADG and tended (P = 0.067) to have reduced ADFI. During this time, pigs fed PP6/PP0M tended to have greater ADG and ADFI (P = 0.093 and P = 0.067, respectively) compared with pigs fed PP0/PP0M. Overall, feeding a diet with SDPP improved growth performance and feed intake of young pigs directly after weaning. Feeding multiple M had a negative impact on growth performance of pigs during this trial. This response was more significant when pigs were not fed SDPP in phase 1. Overall, when combining phase 1 and 2 performance data, daily gain and feed intake tended to be reduced when pigs were not fed 6% SDPP in phase 1. This study indicates that the composition of diets fed immediately after weaning may be important for pigs that subsequently are under a M challenge.

Selenium supplementation shows protective effects against patulin-induced brain damage in mice via increases in GSH-related enzyme activity and expression.

AIMS: This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of selenium supplementation on patulin-induced neurotoxicity. MAIN METHODS: Mice were subjected to patulin for 8 weeks. Sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) and selenium-methionine (Se-Met) were supplemented with the diet, and we investigated the effects of selenium on patulin-induced neurotoxicity. The animals were randomly divided into 4 groups containing 6-8 mice each. The first group was used as a control, and only physiological saline (0.9%) was injected. The second group was treated with patulin (1mg/kg) intraperitoneally. The third group was treated with patulin (1mg/kg) along with a dietary supplementation of Na2SeO3 (0.2mg Se/kg of diet). The fourth group was treated with patulin (1mg/kg) plus Se-Met (0.2mg Se/kg of diet). KEY FINDINGS: Patulin treatment increased oxidative damage in the brain, as evidenced by a decrease in non-protein thiol and total thiol groups, along with significant increases in GSSG, reactive oxygen species, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and protein carbonyl levels. Moreover, the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase were inhibited with patulin treatment. Selenium supplementation significantly ameliorated these biological parameter changes. In addition, selenium treatments significantly increased the mRNA levels of GPx-1, GPx-4 and thioredoxin reductase. SIGNIFICANCE: Our data show that selenium supplementation increases the activity and expression of glutathione-related enzymes and offers significant protection against brain damage induced by patulin.

Dietary arginine supplementation enhances intestinal expression of SLC7A7 and SLC7A1 and ameliorates growth depression in mycotoxin-challenged pigs.

This study tested the hypothesis that dietary L-arginine supplementation confers beneficial effects on growing pigs fed a mold-contaminated diet. The measured variables included: (1) the average daily weight gain and feed:gain ratio; (2) activities of total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, diamine oxidase, as well as amino acid and D-lactate concentrations in serum; (3) intestinal morphology; (4) expression of the genes for SLC7A7 (amino acid transporter light chain, y(+L) system, family 7, member 7), SLC7A1 (cationic amino acid transporter, y(+) system, family 7, member 1), SLC1A1 (neuronal/epithelial high affinity glutamate transporter, system XAG, member 1), SLC5A1 (sodium/glucose cotransporter, family 5, member 1) in the ileum and jejunum. Mycotoxins in feedstuffs resulted in an enlarged small intestine mass, oxidative injury in tissues, and reduced growth performance in pigs. Dietary arginine supplementation enhanced (P < 0.05) expression of jejunal SLC7A7 and ileal SLC7A1, in comparison with the control and mycotoxin groups. In addition, supplementing 1% L-arginine to the mycotoxin-contaminated feed had the following beneficial effects (P < 0.05): (1) alleviating the imbalance of the antioxidant system in the body; (2) ameliorating intestinal abnormalities; and (3) attenuating whole-body growth depression, compared with the mycotoxin group without arginine treatment. Collectively, these results indicate that dietary supplementation with L-arginine exerts a protective role in pigs fed mold-contaminated foods. The findings may have important nutritional implications for humans and other mammals.

Effects of a deoxynivalenol-contaminated diet on the reproductive performance and immunoglobulin concentrations in pigs.

Two groups of 10 pregnant gilts (89 +/- 2 days gestation) were fed either an experimental diet that contained 5.08 mg/kg deoxynivalenol, 0.09 mg/kg zearalenone and 21.6 mg/kg fusaric acid, or a control diet that contained 0.29 mg/kg deoxynivalenol, <0.02 mg/kg zearalenone and <0.77 mg/kg fusaric acid. The concentrations of immunoglobulins were measured in sera of the gilts and in the colostrum and serum of the piglets by radial immunodiffusion. The feed consumption of the sows fed the experimental diet was significantly lower and the overall growth rate of their piglets was significantly reduced. On average, parturition took 80 minutes longer in sows fed the experimental diet. On day 17 after parturition, the concentration of IgM in the serum of the experimental gilts was significantly higher, but the concentration of IgA in their colostrum was significantly lower, than in the control gilts. In the serum of the piglets 12, 24 and 48 hours after first suckling, the concentrations of IgA and IgG were significantly lower in those farrowed by the sows fed the experimental diet than in those farrowed by the sows fed the control diet.