DEOXYNIVALENOL: METABOLISM AND REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN HUMAN EXPOSURE

Abstract

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most abundant mycotoxins in contaminated food and feed worldwide. It is toxic to humans and inhibits DNA, RNA and protein synthesis. In this review, the metabolism of DON and its exposure in humans from different regions are summarized. Conjugated products DON-3-glucuronide, DON-15-glucuronide, and DON-7-glucuronide are found to be the major metabolites in humans. Human exposure of DON shows some regional differences due to the different DON levels in cereal-based foods and the food intake habits. C12,13-deepoxy metabolite, DOM-1 can be found in most French populations but is rarely detected in UK adults. Spanish exposes lower DON levels than the UK populations. A very high DON exposure is detected in South Africa and Linxian, China. Fetus is shown to expose to DON during pregnancy in human. This review will provide global information of DON metabolism and exposure in humans and facilitate the mycotoxin control strategies.