Evaluation of human exposure to dietary fumonisin B1 by using biomarkers in biological materials

Abstract

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by several species of fungi that contaminate food before and after processing, creating a serious problem for public health and food quality. Fumonisins are major types of mycotoxins occurring worldwide, but with great frequency in Brazil. Considering the need for studies to evaluate the applicability of biomarkers of human exposure to fumonisin B1 (FB1), the project aims to evaluate the exposure of humans to FB1 in foods, knowing the concentration of the toxin in diet by analyzing of different biomarkers present in samples of blood, urine and hair. The collections for the present study were performed over a period of 12 months, coming from 33 residences (volunteers belonging to the USP Campus Pirassununga) and another group of high consumption (residents of the western state of Santa Catarina) being collected in only one moment. With respect to biological materials were collected for a total of 272 blood samples, 276 urine samples and 243 samples of hair. In addition, questionnaires were administered to recall and Food Frequency Questionary during the period evaluated, in order to meet the estimated intake of the toxin. Analyses of FB1 in hair, originally planned for HPLC determination, will be evaluate by LC-MS/MS method improves the sensitivity of the results. Initially the quantification method will be optimized and determined the characterization of the method (precision, recovery, detection limit, quantification limit, selectivity, specificity and linear range). Hair samples, transported at room temperature will be evaluated with respect to the levels of fumonisin B1. From the results obtained are compared with other investigated biomarkers of recent exposure (FB1 in serum and urine and sphinganine / sphingosine ratio in serum and urine), and related to the estimated intake of the toxin. It is intended that the PhD student make the analysis of residues of FB1 in the humans hair on Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab under the supervision of Prof. Dr. George Rottinghaus in the University of Missouri, United States and then implant the methodology in the Laboratory of Microbiology and Food Mycotoxicology / FZEA. (AU)