The prevalence of mycotoxins in Kashin-Beck disease

Abstract

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxic chemical compounds produced by fungi infesting agricultural crops both during their growth and storage. Such secondary metabolites, when ingested, can produce toxic syndromes in humans. As it has been suggested that mycotoxins might be involved in the development of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD), we undertook a survey of barley grains of KBD-affected families and non-affected families in that country. We found, by thin layer chromatography, a hitherto unknown metabolite of Alternaria sp. This was especially common on the barley grains of KBD-affected families.Résumé Les mycotoxines sont des métabolites secondaires produits des champignons infestant les céréales au cours de la période culturale ou durant le stockage des grains. De telles substances chimiques peuvent être toxiques vis-à-vis de l'homme lorsqu'elle sont ingérées. La contamination des grains de céréales par des mycotoxines constitue toutefois une piste sérieuse pour la compré-hension de l'étiologie de la maladie de Kashin-Beck.Nous avons entrepris des analyses de plusieurs mycotoxines sur des échantillons de grains d'orge provenant de familles malades et de familles non malades au Tibet. Un métabolite, encore inconnu, produit par Alternaria spp. a été détecté dans les échantillons de grains provenant des familles malades.

Efficacy of celecoxib, meloxicam and paracetamol in elderly Kashin-Beck Disease (KBD) patients

“…Aetiological hypotheses include mycotoxins in stored barley grains [3,4], selenium deficiency [5,6] and excess of fulvic acid in drinking water [7]. Three million people are affected in an endemic area from east Siberia to north and west of China [8].…”

Effects of physical environment on the evolution of Kashin-Beck disease in Tibet

“…However, the histological observation of small necrotic lesions in the cartilage of the growth plate [14] may explain the evolution of the disease. Also, since a good relation exists between mycotoxins produced by fungi in barley grain and the prevalence of KBD [2,3,5,6], it is clear that a multifactorial aetiology should be considered.…”

“…Three million people are affected in Tibet, China and south-east Siberia. Aetiological hypotheses include micotoxin in stored barley grains [2,3,5,6], Selenium (Se) deficiency [4,12,13] and excess of fulvic acid in drinking water [9].…”

Hydrochemical anomaly of drinking waters in some endemic Kashin-Beck disease areas of Tibet, China

“…Moreno-Reyes et al (1998, 2001 investigated the relationship among the serum selenium concentration, thyroid function, and KBD status in children with ages between 5 and 15 living in the villages around Lhasa, and evaluated the effects of selenium and iodine supplements on KBD control. Chasseur et al (1997Chasseur et al ( , 2001 and Haubruge et al (2001Haubruge et al ( , 2003 analyzed the impact of food crop contamination by fungi-produced mycotoxin on the KBD prevalence in Lhasa and Rikaze, and accordingly recommended some prevention and control measures for KBD.…”