Human and animal dietary exposure to ergot alkaloids.

ABSTRACT: The ergot alkaloids (EAs) are mycotoxins produced by several species of fungi in the genus Claviceps. In Europe, Claviceps purpurea is the most widespread species and it commonly affects cereals such as rye, wheat, triticale, barley, millets and oats. Food and feed samples used to estimate human and animal dietary exposure were analysed for the 12 main C. purpurea EAs: ergometrine, ergosine, ergocornine, ergotamine, ergocristine, ergocryptine (α- and β-isomers) and their corresponding -inine (S)-epimers. The highest levels of EAs were reported in rye and rye-containing commodities. In humans, mean chronic dietary exposure was highest in 'Toddlers' and 'Other children' with maximum UB estimates of 0.47 and 0.46 μg/kg bw per day, respectively. The 95th perc

SUBMITTER: European Food Safety Authority 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7010019 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature