Barbara De Santis

Ochratoxin a contamination in italian wine samples and evaluation of the exposure in the italian population.

The scope of this study was to evaluate the exposure of the Italian population to ochratoxin A (OTA) attributable to wine consumption. With this aim 1166 wine samples (773 red wines, 290 white, 75 rose, and 28 dessert wines), collected in 19 different Italian regions and mostly produced between 1988 and 2004, were analyzed for OTA content. The obtained results are reported by year of harvest, geographical area of production, and type of wine. Red wine showed the highest maximum level of contamination (7.50 ng/mL), even though rose wines were characterized by a higher mean value (0.01 ng/mL). A gradually increasing mean concentration was also observed from the north (0.05 ng/mL) to south of Italy (0.54 ng/mL). Exposure calculations, performed using two different consumption databases, indicate a daily intake for consumer only of 0.59 up to 1.24 ng/(kg of b.w.)/day and of 0.33 up to 0.90 ng/(kg of b.w.)/day for the total population. Even in the worst case, corresponding to the calculation of the intake for consumers only in southern Italy and Islands and considering the mean consumption data increased by 1 standard deviation, a quite low exposure (1.68 ng/(kg of b.w.)/day, accounting for 9.8% of TDI) was obtained. Considering the overall OTA dietary exposure, obtained exposure rates indicate that wine did not pose a risk to the Italian population health.

Environment, dysbiosis, immunity and sex-specific susceptibility: A translational hypothesis for regressive autism pathogenesis

Abstract Background Autism is an increasing neurodevelopmental disease that appears by 3 years of age, has genetic and/or environmental etiology, and often shows comorbid situations, such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Autism has also a striking sex-bias, not fully genetically explainable. Objective Our goal was to explain how and in which predisposing conditions some compounds can impair neurodevelopment, why this occurs in the first years of age, and, primarily, why more in males than females. Methods We reviewed articles regarding the genetic and environmental etiology of autism and toxins effects on animal models selected from PubMed and databases about autism and toxicology. Discussion Our hypothesis proposes that in the first year of life, the decreasing of maternal immune protection and child immune-system immaturity create an immune vulnerability to infection diseases that, especially if treated with antibiotics, could facilitate dysbiosis and GI disorders. This condition triggers a vicious circle between immune system impairment and increasing dysbiosis that leads to leaky gut and neurochemical compounds and/or neurotoxic xenobiotics production and absorption. This alteration affects the ‘gut-brain axis’ communication that connects gut with central nervous system via immune system. Thus, metabolic pathways impaired in autistic children can be affected by genetic alterations or by environment–xenobiotics interference. In addition, in animal models many xenobiotics exert their neurotoxicity in a sex-dependent manner. Conclusions We integrate fragmented and multi-disciplinary information in a unique hypothesis and first disclose a possible environmental origin for the imbalance of male:female distribution of autism, reinforcing the idea that exogenous factors are related to the recent rise of this disease.

Automated HPLC method for the determination of ochratoxin A in wine samples

Abstract Recently food safety issues received increasing attention and they will be more and more the matter of interest of risk assessors. Among the others, Ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination in wine resulted in an emerging risk for consumers. Recently, both monitoring programs and researches have been performed, aimed at individuating the status of contamination world‐wide and critical control points in the wine‐making chain. At the moment, all studies confirmed that red wines resulted in contamination more frequently and at higher levels than white wines. This paper describes a study to carry out an automated method of analysis for the determination of OTA in wine samples, in order to process a high number of samples for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) purposes. Method performance characteristics, such as repeatability, internal reproducibility, and accuracy, showed good performance and reliability of the method, adequately matching with the criteria suggested by Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) for the analysis of mycotoxins. The advantages coming out from this method are, therefore, the saving of time of analysis, the possibility to analyze large amounts of samples, the reduction of the employment of personnel, and the obtaining of all the requirements requested by the national legislation dealing with the official control of foodstuffs.

Effect of Sample Size in the Evaluation of “In-Field” Sampling Plans for Aflatoxin B1 Determination in Corn

Use of proper sampling methods throughout the agri-food chain is crucial when it comes to effectively detecting contaminants in foods and feeds. The objective of the study was to estimate the performance of sampling plan designs to determine aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) contamination in corn fields. A total of 840 ears were selected from a corn field suspected of being contaminated with aflatoxin. The mean and variance among the aflatoxin values for each ear were 10.6 mug/kg and 2233.3, respectively. The variability and confidence intervals associated with sample means of a given size could be predicted using an equation associated with the normal distribution. Sample sizes of 248 and 674 ears would be required to estimate the true field concentration of 10.6 mug/kg within +/-50 and +/-30%, respectively. Using the distribution information from the study, operating characteristic curves were developed to show the performance of various sampling plan designs.

High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Determination of Ochratoxin A in Cocoa Powder

Abstract Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a potent nephrotoxin that can affect human health through their diet. Cereals and coffee represent, by far, the main contributors to OTA exposure, but recently other food commodities like wine, raisins, and cocoa products have been found to be additional sources of intake for consumers. Ochratoxin A contamination in cocoa derived products presents an emerging risk for consumer. Recently, both monitoring programs and research have been aimed at ascertaining the status of contamination worldwide, and critical control points in cocoa processing. At the moment, all studies confirmed that cocoa can result in contamination quite frequently, and at levels worthy of interest. This paper describes a study to carry out a method of analysis for the determination of OTA in cocoa derived products. Performance characteristics of the method, as within‐day and between‐day repeatability, reproducibility, and accuracy are described, showing reliable results adequately matching the criteria suggested by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) for the analysis of mycotoxins. The advantages resulting from this method are mainly addressed to the saving of time of analysis, and the possibility to detect ng/kg levels of ochratoxin A without interfering peaks, representing, therefore, a useful tool for the control of foodstuffs, in accordance with the upcoming communitary legislation.

Development of a LC-MS/MS Method for the Multi-Mycotoxin Determination in Composite Cereal-Based Samples

The analytical scenario for determining contaminants in the food and feed sector is constantly prompted by the progress and improvement of knowledge and expertise of researchers and by the technical innovation of the instrumentation available. Mycotoxins are agricultural contaminants of fungal origin occurring at all latitudes worldwide and being characterized by acute and chronic effects on human health and animal wellness, depending on the species sensitivity. The major mycotoxins of food concern are aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A, the first for its toxicity, and the second for its recurrent occurrence. However, the European legislation sets maximum limits for mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, and zearalenone, and indicative limits for T-2 and HT-2 toxins. Due to the actual probability that co-occurring mycotoxins are present in a food or feed product, nowadays, the availability of reliable, sensitive, and versatile multi-mycotoxin methods is assuming a relevant importance. Due to the wide range of matrices susceptible to mycotoxin contamination and the possible co-occurrence, a multi-mycotoxin and multi-matrix method was validated in liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with the purpose to overcome specific matrix effects and analyze complex cereal-based samples within the Italian Total Diet Study project.

Exposure Assessment for Italian Population Groups to Deoxynivalenol Deriving from Pasta Consumption

Four hundred and seventy-two pasta samples were collected from long retail distribution chain sales points located in North, Central and South Italy. Representative criteria in the sample collection were followed in terms of number of samples collected, market share, and types of pasta. Samples were analysed by an accredited HPLC-UV method of analysis. The mean contamination level (64.8 μg/kg) of deoxynivalenol (DON) was in the 95th percentile (239 μg/kg) and 99th percentile (337 μg/kg), far below the legal limit (750 μg/kg) set by Regulation EC/1126/2007, accounting for about one tenth, one third and half the legal limit, respectively. Ninety-nine percent of samples fell below half the legal limit. On the basis of the obtained occurrence levels and considering the consumption rates reported by the Italian official database, no health concern was assessed for all consumer groups, being that exposure was far below the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 1000 ng/kg b.w/day. Nevertheless, despite this, particular attention should be devoted to the exposure to DON by high consumers, such as children aged 3–5 years, who could reach the TDI even with very low levels of DON contamination.

Role of mycotoxins in the pathobiology of autism: A first evidence

Objectives: Gene–environment interaction is an emerging hypothesis to expound not only the autism pathogenesis but also the increased incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autistic spectrum disorder, attention-deficit, hyperactivity disorder). Among xenobiotics, mycotoxins are worldwide contaminants of food that provoke toxicological effects, crucially resembling several symptoms associated with autism such as oxidative stress, intestinal permeability, and inflammation. Here, we focused on a group of mycotoxins to test their role in the manifestation of autism, try to explain their mechanism of action, and discuss possible preventive and therapeutic interventions. Methods: Autistic children (n = 52) and healthy children [n = 58 (31 siblings and 27 unrelated subjects)] were recruited and body fluids and clinical data collected. The diagnosis of autism was made according to DSM V criteria, then with GMDS 0-2, WPPSI, and ADOS. Ochratoxin A (OTA), gliotoxin, zearalenone, and sphingosine/sphinganine ratio were determined by LC analysis in sera and urines. Statistical analysis was performed by the Wilcoxon Rank Sum (Mann–Whitney) test and Spearman test. Results: By comparing the results of autistic patients with those of unrelated controls, a significant association was found for OTA levels in urines (P = 0.0002) and sera (P = 0.0017), and also comparing patients with siblings and unrelated controls together (P = 0.0081). Discussion: Our results are the first describing a possible role of OTA in the pathobiology of autism. Recalling the male prevalence of ASD (male/female = 4–5/1), it is noted that, in animal models, OTA exerts its neurotoxicity especially in males. Moreover, in vitro, OTA increases microRNA-132 that is dysregulated in autistic patients and involved in reciprocal regulation of the autism-related genes MeCP2 and PTEN. A personalized diet coupled with probiotic administration, especially OTA adsorbing Lactobacillus, could ameliorate autistic symptoms in OTA-positive patients.

Determination of Deoxynivalenol in the Urine of Pregnant Women in the UK

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.

Chapter 12 Mycotoxins

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses two classes of mycotoxins: major and minor. In the major class, aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, fumonisins (FBs), patulin, and zearalenone concern human and animal health, whereas in the minor class, ergot alkaloids, citrinin, cyclopiazonic acid, sterigmatocystin, moniliformin, gliotoxin, citreoviridin, tremorgenic mycotoxins, penicillic acid, roquefortine, 3-nitropropionic acid, and fusaproliferin are noteworthy. The chapter highlights health effects and analytical methods of mycotoxins. The impact on human health derived from the interaction between mycotoxins and human biosystems can range from acute to chronic effects, and it can be derived from various sources of exposure—namely, dermal contact, inhalation, and consumption of contaminated food. Monitoring, exposure assessment, official control issue, quality control at production, and research are the activities that require appropriate methods. Decontamination procedures for reducing or eliminating the presence of mycotoxins in food products have not yet been standardized worldwide because of the related high costs and, in some cases, the lack of feasibility of effective results. However, chemical, biological, and physical treatments are known to be effective in reducing the mycotoxin content in food.