Nutritional toxicology: the significance of natural toxins

1. The human diet may act as a carrier for substances which have a deleterious effect on human health either acutely or after chronic intake. 2. These substances can be divided into nutrients, contaminants, food additives and natural toxicants. 3. Recent research has mainly focused upon the contaminants and additives. This has led to regulatory measures which aim to prevent disease from exposure to such chemicals. 4. The natural toxicants have not been as widely studied as the other classes of dietary toxins. Their possible impact on human health, however, justifies stimulation of research into this important branch of toxicology.