Hi,
I tested very high for Ochratoxin A in a recent urine/ mycotoxin test and am currently attempting to find out what the source of this mold might be. Mold sickness from this is known to be highly inflammatory, causing autoimmune issues, GI effects, kidney damage and potentially renal cancer.
It can be found in environments (water damage) or food...grains, nuts, cereal, rice, etc. so it is a bit of an investigation at this point, and rather concerning since my diet is already limited. I plan to test our home and cut out the millet and cut down on the rice and daily rice cereal and almond butter I have been consuming.
I'm curious if anyone has had experience with this and how/ if it has affected the immune system and MC symptoms.
Anyone use activated charcoal or cholestyramine for something like this?
Thanks in advance!
Mold Toxicity- Food Sources and Autoimmune/ GI symptoms
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Jacqueline,
Ocratoxin is only one of the many micotoxins that are byproducts of the various Aspergillis fungi species. They're classified as tropical fungi, but they're a very common problem in many parts of the U. S., especially here in the South. They primarily affect grains, but some of them can also affect fruit, nuts, or other foods. Most of them only create the toxic byproducts in grains when under stress during the growing season, such as during drought conditions, especially during the critical pollination period. The fungi are almost always present, but the toxic byproducts (the micotoxins) are usually not produced when growing conditions are good. Here in Central Texas, the most common micotoxin is aflatoxin, which can be found in corn, grain sorghum, peanuts, and cotton, during stressed growing seasons. They're closely regulated by USDA and the State agricultural regulatory agencies, so that these days, grain coming from farms is not likely to have a micotoxin problem. In the past, it sometimes happened, in bad years.
But these micotoxins can grow during storage in almost any agricultural commodity that's not stored properly, especially if the moisture level is too high for safe storage. It can happen to grain, fruit, or whatever. Therefore, I would surmise that most micotoxin problems these days are created during storage at grain elevators, and improper storage or handling by processors.
In your case, I'm going to guess that your high ocratoxin level may be originating from a particular product that comes from a processor that's failing to check micotoxin levels in their finished products. I'm not familiar with ocratoxin, as it's rarely a problem around here, but most micotoxins end up in the liver, where they can cause extensive damage. Aflatoxin, for example, will slowly kill feedlot animals by progressively destroying their liver, if the aflatoxin level is extremely high in their feed.
If it were me, I would look at what I was eating the most of (in terms of grains, nuts, or fruit — but it will almost surely be grains) and switch grains, or at least switch brands. I don't have any personal experience with this, but yes, I would expect cholestyramine to trap most micotoxins in your diet. I doubt that it would help to remove any micotoxins that are already trapped in your liver, kidneys, or any other organs.
Here's a little trick that some hog producers use: Research shows that certain additives will sequester aflatoxin. Many hog producers add bentonite clay (sodium bentonite) to their ration if they have to feed corn that has an aflatoxin level significantly above the tolerance level. Calcium bentonite can also be used. IOW, with the bentonite in the feed, the aflatoxin will just pass harmlessly through the hogs, Hogs (or pigs, or swine) have a monogastric (single stomach) digestive system which is so similar to the human digestive system that many parts can be surgically transplanted (and they will work well). Therefore, I would expect that most digestive treatments that work well for pigs, will also work well for humans. Whether or not this would work for ocratoxin, I have no information, but I'll bet it would work. There may be some published research on it that you can find in a search. IOW, if you can't locate the source, or you can't afford to cut it out of your diet, you may be able to eliminate (or greatly reduce) the risk of continuing exposure by adding bentonite clay to your diet. It's a safe additive, in fact some members of this forum have used it in the past.
I hope this helps.
Tex
Ocratoxin is only one of the many micotoxins that are byproducts of the various Aspergillis fungi species. They're classified as tropical fungi, but they're a very common problem in many parts of the U. S., especially here in the South. They primarily affect grains, but some of them can also affect fruit, nuts, or other foods. Most of them only create the toxic byproducts in grains when under stress during the growing season, such as during drought conditions, especially during the critical pollination period. The fungi are almost always present, but the toxic byproducts (the micotoxins) are usually not produced when growing conditions are good. Here in Central Texas, the most common micotoxin is aflatoxin, which can be found in corn, grain sorghum, peanuts, and cotton, during stressed growing seasons. They're closely regulated by USDA and the State agricultural regulatory agencies, so that these days, grain coming from farms is not likely to have a micotoxin problem. In the past, it sometimes happened, in bad years.
But these micotoxins can grow during storage in almost any agricultural commodity that's not stored properly, especially if the moisture level is too high for safe storage. It can happen to grain, fruit, or whatever. Therefore, I would surmise that most micotoxin problems these days are created during storage at grain elevators, and improper storage or handling by processors.
In your case, I'm going to guess that your high ocratoxin level may be originating from a particular product that comes from a processor that's failing to check micotoxin levels in their finished products. I'm not familiar with ocratoxin, as it's rarely a problem around here, but most micotoxins end up in the liver, where they can cause extensive damage. Aflatoxin, for example, will slowly kill feedlot animals by progressively destroying their liver, if the aflatoxin level is extremely high in their feed.
If it were me, I would look at what I was eating the most of (in terms of grains, nuts, or fruit — but it will almost surely be grains) and switch grains, or at least switch brands. I don't have any personal experience with this, but yes, I would expect cholestyramine to trap most micotoxins in your diet. I doubt that it would help to remove any micotoxins that are already trapped in your liver, kidneys, or any other organs.
Here's a little trick that some hog producers use: Research shows that certain additives will sequester aflatoxin. Many hog producers add bentonite clay (sodium bentonite) to their ration if they have to feed corn that has an aflatoxin level significantly above the tolerance level. Calcium bentonite can also be used. IOW, with the bentonite in the feed, the aflatoxin will just pass harmlessly through the hogs, Hogs (or pigs, or swine) have a monogastric (single stomach) digestive system which is so similar to the human digestive system that many parts can be surgically transplanted (and they will work well). Therefore, I would expect that most digestive treatments that work well for pigs, will also work well for humans. Whether or not this would work for ocratoxin, I have no information, but I'll bet it would work. There may be some published research on it that you can find in a search. IOW, if you can't locate the source, or you can't afford to cut it out of your diet, you may be able to eliminate (or greatly reduce) the risk of continuing exposure by adding bentonite clay to your diet. It's a safe additive, in fact some members of this forum have used it in the past.
I hope this helps.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Tex,
Hope all is well in your realm.. and
thanks again for one more very thorough reply--
greatly appreciated!
I have heard of the bentonite clay and also a few other binders, (including charcoal) so it sounds like that is a good first option as I sort out the source. Is activated charcoal also known to be safe for most of us with MC?
It makes sense to give my kidneys some relief asap.
Thanks again!
Hope all is well in your realm.. and
thanks again for one more very thorough reply--
greatly appreciated!
I have heard of the bentonite clay and also a few other binders, (including charcoal) so it sounds like that is a good first option as I sort out the source. Is activated charcoal also known to be safe for most of us with MC?
It makes sense to give my kidneys some relief asap.
Thanks again!
Jacqueline
Hi Jacqueline,
When I was taking a treatment for SIBO, I took a product called GI Detox and tolerated it well. I’m sure there are others too. My experience is limited to this product.
Here is a list of the ingredients:
Proprietary Herbal Blend: Zeolite Clay, Activated Charcoal, Aloe Vera, MMST Silica, Apple Pectin, Humic / Fulvic Acid.
https://biocidin.com/products/gi-detox
Best wishes,
Carol
When I was taking a treatment for SIBO, I took a product called GI Detox and tolerated it well. I’m sure there are others too. My experience is limited to this product.
Here is a list of the ingredients:
Proprietary Herbal Blend: Zeolite Clay, Activated Charcoal, Aloe Vera, MMST Silica, Apple Pectin, Humic / Fulvic Acid.
https://biocidin.com/products/gi-detox
Best wishes,
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Hi Carol,
Thanks for the insight... good to know that product worked for you-- I did run across it in my searches.
A naturopath I've been working with suggested a few options, so I'm exploring them:
acetyl glutathione (his formula, a very pure brand, which I took in the past)
Ultra Binder by Quicksilver
If anyone has experience with the second option, would be grateful to hear.
thanks again for your sharing your experience Carol!
Take care~
Thanks for the insight... good to know that product worked for you-- I did run across it in my searches.
A naturopath I've been working with suggested a few options, so I'm exploring them:
acetyl glutathione (his formula, a very pure brand, which I took in the past)
Ultra Binder by Quicksilver
If anyone has experience with the second option, would be grateful to hear.
thanks again for your sharing your experience Carol!
Take care~
Jacqueline
I'm starting to think about mold sensitivity as one of my issues. I've had aspergillus growing in an unvented utility room in my basement.
I've tried charcoal tabs but it gives me a tummy ache. No issues with bentonite clay but only tried it a coupe of times. I do well with Pepto Bismol tabs and I wonder if they too sequester mold toxins, and not just bacterial toxins.
I've tried charcoal tabs but it gives me a tummy ache. No issues with bentonite clay but only tried it a coupe of times. I do well with Pepto Bismol tabs and I wonder if they too sequester mold toxins, and not just bacterial toxins.
1987 Mononucleosis (EBV)
2004 Hypomyopathic Dermatomyositis
2009 Lymphocytic Colitis
2010 GF/DF/SF Diet
2014 Low Dose Naltrexone
2004 Hypomyopathic Dermatomyositis
2009 Lymphocytic Colitis
2010 GF/DF/SF Diet
2014 Low Dose Naltrexone