Biomonitoring of Enniatin B1 and Its Phase I Metabolites in Human Urine: First Large-Scale Study

Abstract

Enniatins (Enns) are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. which are a fungus widely spread throughout cereals and cereal-based products. Among all the identified enniatins, Enn B1 stands as one of the most prevalent analogues in cereals in Europe. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate for the first time the presence of Enn B1 and its phase I metabolites in 300 human urine samples using an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) methodology. Enn B1 was detected in 94.3% of samples ranging from 0.007 to 0.429 ng/mL (mean value: 0.065 ng/mL). In accordance with previous in vitro and in vivo analysis, hydroxylated metabolites (78.0% samples) and carbonylated metabolites (66.0% samples) were tentatively identified as the major products. Results from this biomonitoring study point to a frequent intake of Enn B1 in the studied population, suggesting that in-depth toxicological studies are needed in order to understand the potential effects in humans.

Application of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for Tracking Human Exposure to Deoxynivalenol and Enniatins

“…There are no data on the distribution of enniatins in WW, but enniatins have been frequently found in urine samples. Enniatin B has been detected in urine at 0.006 to 0.391 ng/mL concentrations [22] and enniatin B1 was detected at 0.007 to 0.429 ng/mL [23]. It should be considered that these studies were from Italy where the occurrence of enniatin may be different than in the northern Europe.…”

“…Mycotoxins of the ENN group have been frequently detected in human blood serum and urine. Thus, in two studies from Italy [22,23], enniatin B1 was observed of 84% and 94% of urine samples in the range of 0.006-0.391 ng/mL and 0.007-0.429 ng/mL, respectively. Enniatin B was frequently detected in urine samples [35], with the average concentration of 0.017 ng/mL.…”

Analysis of Mycotoxin and Secondary Metabolites in Commercial and Traditional Slovak Cheese Samples

“…[37,38]. ENNs occur as contaminants mainly in cereals, although their presence has been also reported in other matrices, including products of animal origin, as a consequence of the carry-over of these compounds into animal tissues after the feeding of contaminated feed [39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. As reported, high contamination levels of ENNs in food commodities have been reported.…”

Feedborne Mycotoxins Beauvericin and Enniatins and Livestock Animals

“…However, all four EN analogs were detected in feces with maximum concentrations 6 h after administration [23]. Further studies are needed to specify the routes of ENs and BEA excretion in livestock animals and also check the presence of various phase I metabolites in excreta because demethylated, oxidated, hydroxylated and carbonylated metabolites were recently tentatively identified in human urine samples [121].…”