Researchers are investigating how mold toxins affect hormones during pregnancy

A fungal toxin that hinders animal fertility and fetal development may also disrupt human sex hormones during pregnancy, according to a Rutgers Health study.

Zearalenone (ZEN), which contaminates grains, meat and processed foods worldwide, is structurally so similar to the hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) that it binds to estrogen receptors. Large doses reduce the number and size of offspring in animal studies. Paradoxically, these compounds also promote growth in livestock after birth, so much so that a synthetic version of ZEN is often administered to livestock in the US.

The study, published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Healthlinks ZEN exposure to hormone profiles during human pregnancy.

“The big picture is that sex hormones such as estrogens and androgens are important for all kinds of development, so in theory this common dietary component could disrupt many aspects of development by interfering with these hormones,” says Carolyn Kinkade, a doctoral student. candidate in the Rutgers School of Graduate Studies Exposure Science program and first author of the study.

“These fungal toxins can impact issues ranging from neurodevelopment, to asthma, to growth patterns and metabolism. It is important to replicate these results, so we are currently investigating these issues further using data from other cohorts that have pregnancies and early childhood followed.”

The research team analyzed urine and blood samples taken during each trimester of pregnancy, along with placenta samples taken after birth, from 297 participants in a cohort study in Rochester, NY. Researchers also received cord blood samples from 118 cohort members.

ZEN occurred in more than 93% of urine samples and in more than 57% of placental samples.

The study reported that exposure was associated with estrogen and androgen levels, with differences observed by fetal sex. In pregnancies with male fetuses, higher ZEN was associated with lower estrone and free testosterone levels, while in pregnancies with female fetuses, higher 17β-estradiol was observed.

In an analysis of umbilical cord hormones, which better reflect the fetal environment, ZEN exposure was inversely associated with the weak androgen androstenedione in both sexes. Placenta-ZEN was positively associated with free testosterone in the umbilical cord blood of male offspring.

Collectively, ZEN and other estrogen-like fungal compounds are called mycoestrogens. Such fungi infect grain crops, especially corn and wheat, and researchers expect crop contamination to increase as the climate becomes warmer and wetter.

This increase is believed to be due to the fact that other substances that disrupt hormones during pregnancy – including plastics and pesticides – are also becoming increasingly common. A 2022 study that checked urine samples from 177 women for 103 different compounds from plastics, pesticides and other contaminants found more than 30 chemicals in more than half of the study participants.

“We are making rapid progress in our understanding of how different environmental factors influence fetal development, but much work remains to be done,” said Emily Barrett, senior author of the latest study, co-author of the 2022 study and the George G. Rhoads Endowed Legacy Professor at Rutgers School of Public Health.

“Many questions remain about how to minimize the potential hazard of environmental pollutants and maximize the chances of healthy pregnancy and fetal development.”