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Medicine Apr 2024Protein powders, including those containing herbal and dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, and other natural or synthetic ingredients, can be associated with...
Protein powders, including those containing herbal and dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, and other natural or synthetic ingredients, can be associated with hepatotoxicity. Protein supplements are often mislabeled and deceptive in their contents. In this self-funded transparent study, we extensively analyzed popular protein supplements in India to identify potential hepatotoxic substances based on industrial standards. All products underwent extensive analysis, including total protein content, fungal aflatoxin detection, pesticide residue estimation, heavy metal quantification, steroid detection, and complete organic and inorganic profiling, according to industry standards. Most protein supplements did not meet the labeled and advertised protein content, while certain brands surpassed the stated levels, raising concerns about potential "protein/amino-spiking." In addition, the major brands contained detectable fungal toxins and pesticide residues. Furthermore, many major formulations contained harmful heavy metals such as lead and arsenic, and some featured hepatoxic herbal extracts, particularly green tea extract, turmeric, Garcinia cambogia, and Ashwagandha. Indian-made products were inferior to those manufactured by multinational companies. The presence of various potentially toxic compounds, such as cycloheptatriene, benzene derivatives, toluene, and isopropyl alcohol, within a nonstandardized and unregulated diverse ingredient mix added to the overall concern. We demonstrate that the protein-based herbal and dietary supplement industry requires stringent scrutiny, regulation, and basic safety studies before being marketed. Manufacturers must consider reducing "ingredient complexities" of their protein powders to prevent adverse interactions between herbal and nonherbal components in consumers. Manufacturers must avoid using known toxic ingredients to reduce the avoidable disease burden within the public community.
Topics: Humans; Metals, Heavy; Arsenic; Dietary Supplements; Vitamins; Antioxidants
PubMed: 38579036
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037724 -
Biomedicines Jun 2023The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and HCC-related deaths has increased over the last few decades. There are several risk factors of HCC such as viral... (Review)
Review
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and HCC-related deaths has increased over the last few decades. There are several risk factors of HCC such as viral hepatitis (B, C), cirrhosis, tobacco and alcohol use, aflatoxin-contaminated food, pesticides, diabetes, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and metabolic and genetic diseases. Diagnosis of HCC is based on different methods such as imaging ultrasonography (US), multiphasic enhanced computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and several diagnostic biomarkers. In this review, we examine the epidemiology of HCC worldwide and in Egypt as well as risk factors associated with the development of HCC and, finally, provide the updated diagnostic biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC, particularly in the early stages of HCC. Several biomarkers are considered to diagnose HCC, including downregulated or upregulated protein markers secreted during HCC development, circulating nucleic acids or cells, metabolites, and the promising, recently identified biomarkers based on quantitative proteomics through the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). In addition, a diagnostic model used to improve the sensitivity of combined biomarkers for the diagnosis of early HCC is discussed.
PubMed: 37509493
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071852 -
Toxins Jul 2023Aflatoxins are potent carcinogenic compounds, mainly produced by fungi species of the genus in the soil. Because of their stability, they are difficult to remove... (Review)
Review
Aflatoxins are potent carcinogenic compounds, mainly produced by fungi species of the genus in the soil. Because of their stability, they are difficult to remove completely, even under extreme conditions. Aflatoxin contamination is one of the main causes of safety in peanuts, maize, wheat and other agricultural products. Aflatoxin contamination originates from the soil. Through the investigation of soil properties and soil microbial distribution, the sources of aflatoxin are identified, aflatoxin contamination is classified and analysed, and post-harvest crop detoxification and corresponding contamination prevention measures are identified. This includes the team's recent development of the biofungicide ARC-BBBE (Aflatoxin Rhizobia Couple-, . , . , . ) for field application and nanomaterials for post-production detoxification of cereals and oilseed crops, providing an effective and feasible approach for the prevention and control of aflatoxin contamination. Finally, it is hoped that effective preventive and control measures can be applied to a large number of cereal and oilseed crops.
Topics: Aflatoxins; Soil; Aflatoxin B1; Agriculture; Arachis; Crops, Agricultural; Edible Grain
PubMed: 37624232
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15080475 -
Cureus Nov 2023Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver malignancy, ranking as the seventh most common cancer globally and the second leading cause of deaths due to cancer.... (Review)
Review
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver malignancy, ranking as the seventh most common cancer globally and the second leading cause of deaths due to cancer. This review examines the incidence of HCC, its associated risk factors, and constantly changing global trends. Incidence has been noted to be varying worldwide, particularly due to environmental and infectious risk factors. Chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus infections, alcohol abuse, aflatoxin exposure, diabetes, obesity, and tobacco consumption are some of the leading risk factors noted. Eastern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa were noted to have the highest disease burden for HCC, with China representing a considerably large majority. On the contrary, the United States reports a lower HCC incidence overall due to improved vaccination programs against HBV; however, with a rising incidence of prominent risk factor in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the trend may very well change. Gender disparities were noted to be evident with men experiencing higher rates of HCC compared to women, which may be due to various environmental and biological factors, including alcohol intake, smoking, and androgen hormone levels. Currently, efforts to reduce the overall incidence of HCC include universal HBV vaccinations, antiviral therapies, aflatoxin prevention measures, genetic screening for hereditary hemochromatosis, and early ultrasound evaluation in patients with liver cirrhosis. Understanding these evolving trends and risk factors is essential in combating the rising HCC incidence, especially in Western countries, where risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disorders, are on the rise.
PubMed: 38149129
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49429 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Sep 2023Aflatoxin is the most common type of mycotoxins in contaminated corn, peanuts and rice, which affects the livestock and ultimately endangers human health. Aflatoxin is...
Aflatoxin is the most common type of mycotoxins in contaminated corn, peanuts and rice, which affects the livestock and ultimately endangers human health. Aflatoxin is reported to have carcinogenicity, mutation, growth retardation, immunosuppression and reproductive toxicity. In present study we reported the causes for the declined porcine oocyte quality under aflatoxin exposure. We set up an in vitro exposure model and showed that aflatoxin B1 disturbed cumulus cell expansion and oocyte polar body extrusion. We found that aflatoxin B1 exposure disrupted ER distribution and elevated the expression of GRP78, indicating the occurrence of ER stress, and the increased calcium storage also confirmed this. Besides, the structure of cis-Golgi apparatus, another intracellular membrane system was also affected, showing with decreased GM130 expression. The oocytes under aflatoxin B1 exposure showed aberrant lysosome accumulation and higher LAMP2 expression, a marker for lysosome membrane protection, and this might be due to the aberrant mitochondria function with low ATP production and the increase of apoptosis, since we found that BAX expression increased, and ribosomal protein which is also an apoptosis-related factor RPS3 decreased. Taken together, our study revealed that aflatoxin B1 impairs intracellular membrane system ER, Golgi apparatus, lysosome and mitochondria function to affect porcine oocyte maturation quality.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Swine; Aflatoxin B1; Reactive Oxygen Species; Oocytes; Apoptosis; Intracellular Membranes; Adenosine Triphosphate
PubMed: 37421895
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115213 -
Toxins Sep 2023In this study, aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OTA) were analyzed in grains, specifically wheat and corn, from Albania. To summarize, 71 wheat and 45 corn samples...
In this study, aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OTA) were analyzed in grains, specifically wheat and corn, from Albania. To summarize, 71 wheat and 45 corn samples from different growing areas were collected. The multi-toxin analytical procedure involved sample extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The incidence of AF was 18% in the analyzed wheat and 71% in the corn samples. The concentration of AFs was much higher in the corn samples than in the wheat samples. The maximum permitted levels for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and total AFs were not exceeded in the wheat samples, while they were exceeded in 36% of the corn samples. In the wheat samples, the AFB1 concentration varied between 0.2 and 0.4 µg kg. However, the highest concentrations in the corn samples were 2057, 2944, and 3550 µg kg. OTA was present in only three corn samples and one wheat sample. However, all contaminated samples exceeded the maximum permitted levels. This report reveals the presence of AFs and OTA in grain commodities, specifically wheat and corn, grown in Albania.
Topics: Aflatoxins; Zea mays; Triticum; Chromatography, Liquid; Albania; Incidence; Food Contamination; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Ochratoxins; Aflatoxin B1; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
PubMed: 37755993
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15090567 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jul 2023Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is extremely carcinogenic and can cause liver cancer in humans and animals with continued ingestion. As a natural compound, curcumin (Cur) exhibits...
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is extremely carcinogenic and can cause liver cancer in humans and animals with continued ingestion. As a natural compound, curcumin (Cur) exhibits excellent anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties with few side effects. In this study, a total of 60 male mice (6-week-olds, 15 per group). After one week of acclimatization feeding, the mice were divided into control group (Con), AFB1 group, curcumin group (Cur), and AF+Cur group. The mice were gavaged with curcumin (Cur, 100 mg/kg) and/or AFB1 (0.75 mg/kg). To identify a new therapeutic target for AFB1-induced pyroptosis, we performed proteomic profiling for curcumin alleviating liver injury caused by AFB1 to further validate the targets through volcano plot analysis, Venn analysis, heatmap analysis, correlation, cluster analysis, GO and KEGG enrichment. AFB1 exposure resulted in the loss of hepatocyte membrane, swelling of the endoplasmic reticulum, and a significant increase in transaminase (ALT and AST) contents, while curcumin greatly improved these changes. We found that differentially expressed proteins are enriched in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and identified ITPR2 as a target of curcumin that alleviates AFB1-induced liver injury by proteomics. Furthermore, ITPR2 expression was detected by immunofluorescence, and qRT-PCR for mRNA expression of genes downstream of ITPR2 (calpain1, calpain2, caspase-12, caspase-3). ITPR2-activated endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins (calpain1, calpaini2, bcl-2, BAX, cl-caspase-12, cl-caspase-3), apoptosis (PARP) and pyroptosis (DFNA5) related proteins were examined by western blotting. The analysis showed that it effectively prevents AFB1-induced pyroptosis by lowering endoplasmic reticulum stress via interfering with ITPR2 and its downstream proteins (calpain1, calpain2, bcl-2, Bax) and inhibiting caspase-12/caspase-3 pathway. Conclusively, this study applied proteomic profiling to elucidate ITPR2 as a new target, which might give a new perspective on the mechanism of curcumin alleviating AFB1-induced pyroptosis.
Topics: Male; Mice; Humans; Animals; Pyroptosis; Caspase 3; Aflatoxin B1; Curcumin; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Proteomics; Caspase 12; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors
PubMed: 37257342
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115073 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Among microorganisms found in food, fungi stand out because they are adaptable and competitive in a large range of water activities, temperatures, pHs, humidities and... (Review)
Review
Among microorganisms found in food, fungi stand out because they are adaptable and competitive in a large range of water activities, temperatures, pHs, humidities and substrate types. Besides sporulating, some species are toxigenic and produce toxic metabolites, mycotoxins, under adverse biotic and abiotic variables. Microorganisms are inactivated along the food chain, but mycotoxins have stable structures and remain in ready-to-eat food. The most prevalent mycotoxins in food, which are aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, patulin, tenuazonic acid, trichothecenes and zearalenone, have maximum tolerable limits (MTLs) defined as ppb and ppt by official organizations. The chronic and acute toxicities of mycotoxins and their stability are different in a chemical family. This critical review aims to discuss promising scientific research that successfully mitigated levels of mycotoxins and focus the results of our research group on this issue. It highlights the application of natural antifungal compounds, combinations of management, processing parameters and emergent technologies, and their role in reducing the levels and bioaccessibility. Despite good crop management and processing practices, total decontamination is almost impossible. Experimental evidence has shown that exposure to mycotoxins may be mitigated. However, multidisciplinary efforts need to be made to improve the applicability of successful techniques in the food supply chain to avoid mycotoxins' impact on global food insecurity.
PubMed: 38611416
DOI: 10.3390/foods13071112 -
Essays in Biochemistry Sep 2023Toxigenic fungi, including Aspergillus and Fusarium species, contaminate our major cereal crops with an array of harmful mycotoxins, which threaten the health of humans... (Review)
Review
Toxigenic fungi, including Aspergillus and Fusarium species, contaminate our major cereal crops with an array of harmful mycotoxins, which threaten the health of humans and farmed animals. Despite our best efforts to prevent crop diseases, or postharvest spoilage, our cereals are consistently contaminated with aflatoxins and deoxynivalenol, and while established monitoring systems effectively prevent acute exposure, Aspergillus and Fusarium mycotoxins still threaten our food security. This is through the understudied impacts of: (i) our chronic exposure to these mycotoxins, (ii) the underestimated dietary intake of masked mycotoxins, and (iii) the synergistic threat of cocontaminations by multiple mycotoxins. Mycotoxins also have profound economic consequences for cereal and farmed-animal producers, plus their associated food and feed industries, which results in higher food prices for consumers. Climate change and altering agronomic practices are predicted to exacerbate the extent and intensity of mycotoxin contaminations of cereals. Collectively, this review of the diverse threats from Aspergillus and Fusarium mycotoxins highlights the need for renewed and concerted efforts to understand, and mitigate, the increased risks they pose to our food and feed cereals.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mycotoxins; Edible Grain; Food Contamination; Fungi; Aspergillus; Fusarium
PubMed: 37313591
DOI: 10.1042/EBC20220221