The mycotoxin zearalenone (ZON) is produced by Fusarium mold species. I chose to highlight this mycotoxin following my blog articles on Ochratoxin A (OTA) for three reasons. First, I often see ZON elevated along with OTA on urine-based mycotoxin tests. Second, when it comes to food contamination, ZON and OTA are found on the same grains. Third, it’s effects on the body are significant, given that it inhibits copper transporters, depletes vitamin B2, causes blood glucose dysregulation, and blocks a key gene (GPX4) which can lead to high mitochondrial oxidative stress and Ferroptosis.

Mycotoxin exposure is synonymous with chronic illness, ME / CFS, and Long Haul Covid. Approximately 50-75% of the folks that find me test over the 95% for at least one mycotoxin. Mycotoxins cause organ damage, oxidative stress, neurodegeneration, and some lead to blood glucose issues and diabetes, while others cause iron dysregulation and low ferritin.

Ochratoxin A negatively impacts a significant number of pathways related to detoxification, oxidative stress, heme biosynthesis, and iron regulation. Research has shown that many commonly available compounds can help counteract these negative effects.

Ochratoxin A effects pathways that lead to many issues like : neurodegeneration, brain inflammation, iron dysregulation, POTS, Glial Cell Reactivity, Mast Cell Activation, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Metabolic Dysfunction, and Ferroptosis (un mitigated cell death), Hypoxia, and massive fatigue.