Association Between Mycotoxin Exposure and Dietary Habits in Colorectal Cancer Development Among a Polish Population: A Study Protocol

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and lethal types of cancer worldwide. The developing of this disease includes many factors such as genetic, socioeconomic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, and nutrition habits. The aim of the study is the determination of zearalenone and its metabolite level in the biological samples of participants at risk of CRC, in relation to the nutrition data and information on the quality of life dependent on health. In the cohort clinical trial, 150 participants aged between 50 and 65 will be studied. The participants will be assigned into two groups depending on the colonoscopy result. Participants will be tested at dietary intake, quality of life, sleep time and quality, stress level as well as biochemical parameters of the blood. Moreover, in the biological samples, concentration of zearalenone and its metabolites (α-zearalenol and β-zearalenol) as well as the characteristics of gastrointestinal bacterial will be determined, and the end of the trial for both groups and their results will be compared. Taking into account the possible effect of mycotoxins and nutrition habits on the development of cancer, the results obtained may allow the formulation of new nutritional recommendations and reduce the development and occurrence of CRC.

Mycotoxins and the Enteric Nervous System

“…These studies have reported that aflatoxins (especially aflatoxin B1) may pose a carcinogenic risk and exposure to these chemicals may increase the risk of gastric and colorectal cancer [ 259 , 260 ]. Other studies suggest a correlation between the exposure to ZEN and colorectal cancer [ 261 ], as well as relationships between exposure to aflatoxins and Crohn’s Disease, coeliac disease and ulcerative colitis [ 262 ]. Despite this, differences in concentration of patulin and citrinin in plasma and urine between healthy people and patients suffering from colorectal cancer have not been observed, which may suggest that these mycotoxins are not key factors leading to this disease [ 263 ].…”

QuEChERS LC–MS/MS Screening Method for Mycotoxin Detection in Cereal Products and Spices

“…Cereals such as maize, oat, and wheat are considered the most susceptible to mycotoxin contamination [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. It was proven that 25% of cereals consumed in the world in 1988 were contaminated by mycotoxins [ 60 ].…”