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Home / Equine Research Bank / Nat Toxins / Fumonisins: their implications for human and animal health.
Natural toxins1995; 3(4); 193-221; doi: 10.1002/nt.2620030405

Fumonisins: their implications for human and animal health.

Abstract: Fusarium moniliforme is one of the predominant fungi associated with corn intended for human and animal consumption world-wide. Fumonisins, food-borne carcinogens that occur naturally in corn, were first isolated and chemically characterized in South Africa in 1988. The major metabolite, fumonisin B1 (FB1), was subsequently shown to cause leukoencephalomalacia (LEM) in horses, pulmonary edema syndrome (PES) in pigs, and liver cancer in rats. FB1 is also a cancer promoter and initiator in rat liver; hepatotoxic to horses, pigs, rats, and vervet monkeys; cytotoxic to mammalian cell cultures; and phytotoxic to several plants. Fumonisins in home-grown corn have been associated with an elevated risk for human esophageal cancer in Transkei and China. There is a close structural similarity between fumonisin and sphingosine, and fumonisins are the first known naturally occurring inhibitors of sphingolipid biosynthesis. The natural occurrence of FB1, together with FB2 and FB3, has been reported in commercial corn and/or corn-based feeds and foods from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Hungary, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, Switzerland, United States, and Zimbabwe. It is imperative that safe levels of fumonisins in human foods and animal feeds should be determined and realistic tolerance levels established as soon as possible.
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Publication Date: 1995-01-01 PubMed ID: 7582616DOI: 10.1002/nt.2620030405Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses fumonisins, naturally occurring food-borne carcinogens found in corn. Their implications for human and animal health are discussed, emphasizing their worldwide occurrence and the need for defining safe levels in food and feed.

Introduction to Fumonisins

  • Fumonisins are carcinogenic compounds naturally found in corn, mainly associated with the fungi Fusarium moniliforme.
  • These carcinogens were first isolated and chemically characterized in South Africa in 1988.
  • The paper highlights the global occurrence of fumonisins, specifically in corn intended for human and animal consumption.

Health Effects of Fumonisins

  • The major metabolite, fumonisin B1 (FB1), is documented to induce certain diseases in animals, including leukoencephalomalacia (LEM) in horses, pulmonary edema syndrome (PES) in pigs, and liver cancer in rats.
  • FB1 is also study-proven to be hepatotoxic (harmful to the liver) to various animals like horses, pigs, rats, and vervet monkeys.
  • Other documented effects of FB1 include cytotoxicity to mammalian cell cultures and phytotoxicity to several plants.
  • Human health risks have also been identified. The paper notes an association between fumonisins in home-grown corn and an increased risk of esophageal cancer in humans, notably in Transkei and China.

Structural Features and Function of Fumonisins

  • The paper underscores the close structural similarity between fumonisin and sphingosine, an important compound involved in many cellular processes.
  • Fumonisins are identified as the first known naturally occurring inhibitors of sphingolipid biosynthesis, implicating them in multiple disorders and diseases associated with irregularities in sphingolipid functions.

Geographical Distribution and Policy Implications

  • The research points out the global occurrence of fumonisin B1, B2, and B3 in commercial corn and corn-based feeds and foods, supplying a long list of countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, the United States, and Zimbabwe, among others.
  • The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for determining safe levels of fumonisins in human foods and animal feeds and the immediate establishment of realistic tolerance levels to mitigate related health risks.

Cite This Article

APA
Marasas WF. (1995). Fumonisins: their implications for human and animal health. Nat Toxins, 3(4), 193-221. https://doi.org/10.1002/nt.2620030405

Publication

Natural toxins
ISSN: 1056-9014
NlmUniqueID: 9212382
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 3
Issue: 4
Pages: 193-221

Researcher Affiliations

Marasas, W F
  • Programme on Mycotoxins and Experimental Carcinogenesis, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogens, Environmental / toxicity
  • Food Microbiology
  • Fumonisins
  • Humans
  • Mycotoxins / toxicity
  • Rats
  • Zea mays / microbiology

Citations

This article has been cited 31 times.
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