Zearalenone

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin that is mainly produced by Fusarium fungi. Zearalenone has a strong affinity towards the estrogen receptor, which can lead to increased activation of the receptor. This activation can lead to multiple reproductive disorders such as low sperm count, abnormal levels of progesterone, disruption of ovulation, infrequent periods, reduced birth weight, and lower survival rate of the fetus.

Besides the reproductive problems that ZEA can cause, it can also cause detrimental effects on the intestinal tract. ZEA can decrease the cellular integrity of the cells that form the intestinal barrier, which can lead to a phenomenon known as “leaky gut.” ZEA also has a harmful effect on the microbiota in the GI tract, and patients with high ZEA levels have decreased microbial diversity in their gut, which can lead to a variety of problems.

Furthermore, ZEA has been demonstrated to cause enhanced cell proliferation of colon carcinoma cell lines. In addition, ZEA down-regulates the expression of tumor-suppressor genes in intestinal cells, which could lead to a higher risk of cancer.

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