Please read Dr. Aleksunes’ article in Toxins titled, “Impact of Fusarium-Derived Mycoestrogens on Female Reproduction: A Systematic Review.“
Zearalenone (ZEN) is a secondary metabolite of Fusarium fungi and is one of the most common mycotoxin contaminants in global food supplies. ZEN contaminates cereal grains (e.g., maize, wheat, barley, oats and sorghum), and is widely detected in processed foods (i.e., pasta, breakfast cereal and bread). Several studies have documented ZEN concentrations in foodstuffs above established European Union (EU) maximum contamination limits (100–200 µg/kg for unprocessed cereals, 75 µg/kg for processed cereals) as summarized in a recent review. At the same time, adverse reproductive health outcomes following mycoestrogen exposure have been reported in the animal husbandry literature for decades. In swine, mycoestrogen exposure led to vulvo-edema, enlarged uteruses, sclerotic and atrophic changes to the ovary and reduced fetal weight. To read the full article.
Impact of Fusarium-Derived Mycoestrogens on Female Reproduction: A Systematic Review. Kinkade CW, Rivera-Núñez Z, Gorcyzca L, Aleksunes LM, Barrett ES. Toxins (Basel). 2021 May 24;13(6):373. PMID: 34073731 PMCID: PMC8225184 DOI: 3390/toxins13060373