Interrelationships of mycotoxins with nutrition.

Mycotoxins interact with lipid, protein, carbohydrate, and vitamin nutrition. Diets high in lipid have a mortality-sparing effect against aflatoxicosis and, if high in unsaturated fatty acids, a growth-sparing effect. Aflatoxicosis causes a lipid malabsorption syndrome coupled with decreased digestive enzymes and bile salt excretion, a decreased synthesis of fatty acids, and impaired transport. Deficiencies of vitamins A, D, or riboflavin make animals more sensitive to aflatoxin while a thiamin deficiency has the opposite effect. Interaction with vitamins E and K has not been clearly demonstrated as yet. Mycotoxins increase the protein requirements of animals and apparently alter the enzymes that regulate glycogen catabolism and neogenesis.