title: The implications of naturally occurring levels of fumonisins in corn for human and animal health.
abstract: Contamination of corn with the fungus Fusarium moniliforme and its secondary metabolites, the fumonisins, has been associated with several human and animal diseases. This paper summarizes present knowledge and presents new data on the levels of fumonisins present in foods and feeds associated with these diseases as well as in commercial corn and corn-based products. The doses of fumonisins to which humans and animals consuming these products would be exposed are compared with those doses known to produce LEM in horses and hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. It is concluded that the known naturally occurring levels of fumonisins present a potential threat to human and animal health and realistic tolerance levels need to be set.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nutritional Diseases, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Marasas
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Sydenham
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Shephard
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Gelderblom
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004678:Encephalomalacia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D005516:Food Microbiology; D037341:Fumonisins; D005670:Fusarium / Q000378:metabolism*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D037341:Fumonisins; D009183:Mycotoxins; C056934:fumonisin B2; C073063:fumonisin B3; C076287:fumonisin B4; C056933:fumonisin B1