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Background: Zearalenone (ZEN), a secondary metabolite of Fusarium fungi, is one of the most common mycotoxins in global food supplies such as cereal grains and processed food. ZEN and its metabolites are commonly referred to as mycoestrogens, due to their ability to directly bind nuclear estrogen receptors α (ER-α) and β (ER-β). Zeranol, a synthetic mycoestrogen, is administered to U.S. cattle as a growth promoter. Despite widespread human exposure and ample evidence of adverse reproductive impacts in vitro and in vivo, there has been little epidemiological research on the health impacts of ZEN exposure during pregnancy. The objective of our study was to examine associations between ZEN and gestational weight gain (GWG). Methods: Urine samples were collected in each trimester from pregnant participants in the UPSIDE cohort (n = 286, Rochester, NY, USA). High performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry were used to quantify concentrations of ZEN as well as ∑mycoestrogens (composite sum of ZEN metabolites; ng/ml). Maternal weights at clinical visits were abstracted from medical records. We fitted longitudinal models of specific-gravity adjusted, log-transformed ZEN and ∑mycoestrogens in relation to total GWG (kilograms) and GWG rate (kilograms/week). We additionally examined risk of excessive GWG (in relation to Institute of Medicine guidelines) and considered effect modification by fetal sex. Results: ZEN and ∑mycoestrogens were detected in > 93% and > 95% of samples, respectively. Mycoestrogen concentrations were positively associated with total GWG (ZEN β:0.50 kg; 95%CI: 0.13, 0.87) and GWG rate (ZEN β:0.20 kg/week; 95%CI: 0.01, 0.03). Associations tended to be stronger among participants carrying male (versus female) fetuses and results were robust to adjustment for diet. Conclusions: Mycoestrogen exposure during pregnancy may contribute to greater GWG. Future research is needed to understand potential influences on downstream maternal and offspring health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Despite evidence of the endocrine disrupting properties of zearalenone (ZEN) and alpha-zearalanol (zeranol, α-ZAL), they have been minimally studied in human populations. In previous cross-sectional analyses, we demonstrated that 9–10 years old girls with detectable urinary ZEN were of shorter stature and less likely to have reached the onset of breast development than girls with undetectable urinary ZEN. The aim of this study was to examine baseline concentrations of ZEN, (α-ZAL), and their phase-1 metabolites in relation to subsequent growth and timing of menarche using 10 years of longitudinal data. Methods Urine samples were collected from participants in the Jersey Girl Study at age 9–10 (n = 163). Unconjugated ZEN, (α-ZAL), and their metabolites were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Information on height, weight, and pubertal development was collected at a baseline visit with annual follow-up by mail thereafter. Cox regression was used to evaluate time to menarche in relation to baseline ZEN, (α-ZAL), and total mycoestrogen exposure. Z-scores for height and weight were used in mixed models to assess growth. Results Mycoestrogens were detectable in urine in 78.5% of the girls (median ZEN: 1.02 ng/ml, range 0–22.3). Girls with detectable urinary concentrations of (α-ZAL) and total mycoestrogens (sum of ZEN, (α-ZAL) and their metabolites) at baseline were significantly shorter at menarche than girls with levels below detection (p = 0.04). ZEN and total mycoestrogen concentrations were inversely associated with height- and weight-z-scores at menarche (adjusted β = − 0.18, 95% CI: -0.29, − 0.08, and adjusted β = − 0.10, 95% CI: -0.21, 0.01, respectively). Conclusion This study supports and extends our previous results suggesting that exposure to ZEN, (α-ZAL), and their metabolites is associated with slower growth and pubertal development in adolescent girls.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is produced by Fusarium species and a common contaminant in food. ZEA and its metabolites, α- and β-zearalenol, α- and β-zearalanol, and zearalanone, are mycoestrogens that can interfere with estrogen signaling. High levels of mycoestrogens reduced female fertility in farm animals and rodents, in which adverse effects of mycoestrogens on major events in female reproduction, including ovarian folliculogenesis, ovulation, ovarian steroidogenesis, fertilization, preimplantation embryo development and transport, embryo implantation, placentation, parturition, and lactation, have been reported in different experimental settings. Here, we review the in vivo effects of mycoestrogens on the main events in female reproduction.

Estrogens, phytoestrogens, and mycoestrogens may enter into the surface waters from different sources, such as effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants, industrial plants, and animal farms and runoff from agricultural areas. In this work, a multiresidue analytical method for the determination of 17 natural estrogenic compounds, including four steroid estrogens, six mycoestrogens, and seven phytoestrogens, in river water samples has been developed. (FeO)-based magnetic nanoparticles coated by polydopamine (FeO@pDA) were used for dispersive solid-phase extraction, and the final extract was analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The FeO magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by a co-precipitation procedure, coated by pDA, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The sample preparation method was optimized in terms of extraction recovery, matrix effect, selectivity, trueness, precision, method limits of detection, and method limits of quantification (MLOQs). For all the 17 analytes, recoveries were >70 % and matrix effects were below 30 % when 25 mL of river water sample was treated with 90 mg of FeO@pDA nanoparticles. Selectivity was tested by spiking river water samples with 50 other compounds (mycotoxins, antibacterials, conjugated hormones, UV filters, alkylphenols, etc.), and only aflatoxins and some benzophenones showed recoveries >60 %. This method proved to be simple and robust and allowed the determination of natural estrogenic compounds belonging to different classes in surface waters with MLOQs ranging between 0.003 and 0.1 μg L. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural toxins such as phytotoxins and mycotoxins have been studied in food and feed for decades, but little attention has yet been paid to their occurrence in the environment. Because of increasing awareness of the presence and potential relevance of micropollutants in the environment, phytotoxins and mycotoxins should be considered and investigated as part of the chemical cocktail in natural samples. Here, we compile chemical analytical methods to determine important phytotoxins (i.e. phenolic acids, quinones, benzoxazinones, terpenoids, glycoalkaloids, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, phytosterols, flavonoids, coumestans, lignans, and chalcones) and mycotoxins (i.e. resorcyclic acid lactones, trichothecenes, fumonisins, and aflatoxins) in environmentally relevant matrices such as surface water, waste water-treatment plant influent and effluent, soil, sediment, manure, and sewage sludge. The main problems encountered in many of the reviewed methods were the frequent unavailability of suitable internal standards (especially isotope-labelled analogues) and often absent or fragmentary method optimization and validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The mycoestrogen zearalenone (ZEA) is found worldwide as a contaminant in cereals and grains, including maize and soybeans. Despite its non-steroidal structure, ZEA activates estrogen receptors resulting in functional and morphological alteration in reproductive organs. Among farm animals, pigs are considered to be the most sensitive species, and clinical signs of exposure include ovarian atrophy, prolonged estrus intervals, persistent corpora lutea, decreased fertility and stillbirth. Controlled experiments demonstrated that the intensity of these effects depends upon the reproductive status and is more pronounced in prepubertal gilts. ZEA interacts not only with both types of estrogen receptors but is also a substrate for hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, which convert it into two stereoisomeric metabolites, α-zearalenol and β-zearalenol. A second reduction step yields the two minor metabolites α-zearalanol and β-zearalanol. Alpha-hydroxylation results in an increase in estrogenic potency as compared to the parent compound, and the species-specific rate of alpha-hydroxylation may account for the susceptibility of certain animal species, including pigs, towards ZEA exposure. Another factor that might contribute to the species-specific sensitivity is the glucuronidation capacity inactivating ZEA as well as its metabolites. In comparison with other animal species, certain pig breeds have a low glucuronidation capacity, and hence this may cause a delayed inactivation of the ZEA. Experiments in vivo and in vitro indicate that ZEA and its metabolites are substrates for various enzymes involved in steroid metabolism. Hence, considering the interaction with estrogen receptors mentioned above and the modulation of enzyme kinetics, ZEA is grouped with the compounds known collectively as endocrine disrupters. This classification is substantiated by the findings that maternal exposure to ZEA affects the development and reproductive activity in the offspring (F1), as demonstrated in rodent studies. The diversity of biological effects also seems to account for the significant variability in the outcome of clinical trials conducted with pigs of different age groups, and suggests that adverse effects associated with exposure to ZEA occur at concentrations in feed that do not cause obvious clinical signs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Soybeans are a common ingredient of animal feed. They contain isoflavones, which are known to act as phytoestrogens in animals. Isoflavones were described to have beneficial effects on farm animals. However, there are also reports of negative outcomes after the consumption of isoflavones. This review summarizes the current knowledge of metabolization of isoflavones (including the influence of the microbiome, phase I and phase II metabolism), as well as the distribution of isoflavones and their metabolites in tissues. Furthermore, published studies on effects of isoflavones in livestock species (pigs, poultry, ruminants, fish) are reviewed. Moreover, published studies on occurrence of isoflavones in feed materials and co-occurrence with zearalenone are presented and are supplemented with our own survey data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite evidence of the endocrine disrupting properties of zearalenone (ZEN) and alpha-zearalanol (zeranol, α-ZAL), they have been minimally studied in human populations. In previous cross-sectional analyses, we demonstrated that 9-10 years old girls with detectable urinary ZEN were of shorter stature and less likely to have reached the onset of breast development than girls with undetectable urinary ZEN. The aim of this study was to examine baseline concentrations of ZEN, (α-ZAL), and their phase-1 metabolites in relation to subsequent growth and timing of menarche using 10 years of longitudinal data.Methods: Urine samples were collected from participants in the Jersey Girl Study at age 9-10 (n = 163). Unconjugated ZEN, (α-ZAL), and their metabolites were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Information on height, weight, and pubertal development was collected at a baseline visit with annual follow-up by mail thereafter. Cox regression was used to evaluate time to menarche in relation to baseline ZEN, (α-ZAL), and total mycoestrogen exposure. Z-scores for height and weight were used in mixed models to assess growth.Results: Mycoestrogens were detectable in urine in 78.5% of the girls (median ZEN: 1.02 ng/ml, range 0-22.3). Girls with detectable urinary concentrations of (α-ZAL) and total mycoestrogens (sum of ZEN, (α-ZAL) and their metabolites) at baseline were significantly shorter at menarche than girls with levels below detection (p = 0.04). ZEN and total mycoestrogen concentrations were inversely associated with height- and weight-z-scores at menarche (adjusted β = - 0.18, 95% CI: -0.29, - 0.08, and adjusted β = - 0.10, 95% CI: -0.21, 0.01, respectively).Conclusion: This study supports and extends our previous results suggesting that exposure to ZEN, (α-ZAL), and their metabolites is associated with slower growth and pubertal development in adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]