Mycotoxin Contamination: Occurrence, Biotransformation, Pathogenic Mechanisms, and Strategies for Nutritional...

Mycotoxins, toxic fungal secondary metabolites, exhibit a diverse array of toxicological effects, including hepatotoxicity, carcinogenicity, estrogenicity, immunotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. These toxins cause severe contamination in food, feed, and traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), threatening global food security and imposing substantial economic burdens. Among over 400 distinct mycotoxins identified to date, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEN) stand out for their pervasive contamination and grave toxicities. Upon absorption, these toxins undergo biotransformation into reactive metabolites that exert multifaceted toxicities via mechanisms such as carcinogenesis, estrogenic effects, oxidative stress, inflammation, and abnormal apoptosis, collectively threatening human and livestock health. The application of natural and engineered enterosorbents suppresses intestinal absorption and subsequent bioactivation of mycotoxins, while dietary small-molecule bioactive compounds neutralize post-absorption toxicity via biotransformation intervention and cytoprotective reinforcement, collectively preventing the onset and progression of related diseases. This paper reviews the biosynthetic routes of three representative mycotoxins (AFB1, OTA, and ZEN), along with their biotransformation and underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Furthermore, nutritional intervention approaches targeting the underlying mechanisms to ameliorate mycotoxin-induced damage are discussed. This review not only provides valuable insights for future research on mycotoxin toxicity, but also establishes a theoretical foundation for utilizing dietary strategies to counteract mycotoxin-induced physical damage.