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Updated: May 20, 2026

Quantification of Fungal Colonization, Sporogenesis, and Production of Mycotoxins Using Kernel Bioassays
Published on: April 23, 2012
The kinetics of urinary fumonisin B1 excretion in humans consuming maize-based diets
Ronald T Riley1, Olga Torres, Jency L Showker
1USDA - ARS, Toxicology and Mycotoxin Research Unit, R.B. Russell Research Center, Athens, GA 30605, USA. ron.riley@ars.usda.gov
Scope:
Fumonisins (FB) are mycotoxins found in maize. The purpose of this study was to (i) determine the relationship between FB(1) , FB(2) , and FB(3) intake and urinary excretion in humans, (ii) validate a method to isolate urinary FB on C(18) -SPE cartridges for international shipment, and (iii) test the method using samples from Guatemala.
Methods And Results:
Volunteers (n = 10) consumed 206 grams/day of tortillas and biscuits prepared from masa flour and a product containing maize flour. Volunteers estimated their daily urine output and samples were analyzed for FB(1) , FB(2) , and FB(3) and hydrolyzed FB(1) . Only FB(1) was detected in urine suggesting lower absorption of FB(2) and FB(3) . Excretion was highly variable peaking soon after consumption began and decreasing rapidly after consumption stopped. Within 5 days after consumption ended, FB(1) was not detected in urine. In a study with eight volunteers, the average total urinary FB(1) was 0.5% of the intake. FB(1) was detected in 61% (107/177) of the samples collected in Guatemala.
Conclusion:
The results support the use of urinary FB(1) to assess ongoing exposure in population-based studies. However, relating the FB(1) concentration in urine to dietary intake of FB by individual subjects will be complicated due to interindividual variability and the rapidity of clearance.
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