The liver and the mycotoxins

The liver and the mycotoxins

Learn how mycotoxins affect the liver

I'm always asked about how mycotoxins affect the body and in the next articles I will explain, system by system, how mycotoxins affect different parts of the body.

Mycotoxins are toxic chemicals produced by certain types of molds (such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium) that can contaminate your environment. The liver is one of the primary targets because it is the body’s main detoxification organ — it has to process and metabolize these toxins, which exposes liver cells directly to their damaging effects.

How mycotoxins damage the liver?

1. Absorption & Delivery to the Liver.

After ingestion, mycotoxins are absorbed through the intestines and transported to the liver via the portal vein. This is why liver damage occurs early.

2. Metabolic Activation (Making Them Even More Toxic).

The liver tries to detoxify mycotoxins using enzymes like cytochrome P450.
For some mycotoxins — especially aflatoxin B1 — this process can convert them into reactive metabolites that bind to DNA and proteins, causing direct cellular injury.

3. Oxidative Stress

Many mycotoxins promote excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
This leads to:

· Damage to cell membranes (lipid peroxidation)

· Mitochondrial dysfunction

· Cell death (apoptosis and necrosis)

4. Inflammation

Mycotoxins trigger inflammatory pathways (e.g. NF-κB activation), leading to:

· Kupffer cell (liver macrophage) activation

· Release of inflammatory cytokines

· Chronic liver inflammation

· Long-term inflammation can progress to fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis.

5. Genotoxicity & Cancer Risk

Some mycotoxins (especially aflatoxins) are carcinogenic.
They bind to DNA, causing mutations. A well-known example is a mutation in the p53 tumor suppressor gene, which is strongly linked to hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer).

Common Mycotoxins That Affect the Liver:

Aflatoxin B1

Aspergillus: DNA damage → liver cancer

Ochratoxin A

Aspergillus & Penicillium: Oxidative stress and fibrosis

T-2 toxin / Trichothecenes

Fusarium: Inflammation & cell death

Zearalenone

Fusarium: Less direct liver damage, but endocrine effects that stress the liver.

Mycotoxin-related liver stress can show up in non-specific, slow-developing symptoms at first, because the liver has a high “reserve capacity.” Many people don’t realize their liver is under strain until symptoms accumulate.

Below is a helpful overview:

Early / Subtle Symptoms: These are often the first warning signs but are easy to overlook:

Symptom:

1. Fatigue / low energy

Impaired detoxification → toxin buildup

2. Brain fog / difficulty concentrating

Ammonia + inflammatory byproducts not cleared efficiently

3. Loss of appetite or mild nausea

Liver inflammation alters digestive signaling

4. Mild right-upper abdominal discomfort or fullness

Inflammation/swelling of liver tissue

5. Unexplained headaches

Impaired metabolic clearance of toxins

Moderate / Progressive Symptoms: These appear when inflammation and metabolic disruption worsen:

1. Digestive issues (bloating, pale stools)

Poor bile flow from liver stress

2. Dark urine

Increased bilirubin excretion

3. Pruritus (itchy skin)

Bile acids and toxins circulating in blood

4. Muscle weakness

Metabolic dysfunction & nutrient depletion

5. Increased sensitivity to alcohol or medications

Reduced detox capacity

Why symptoms vary so much

The effects depend on:

• Type of mycotoxin (aflatoxins = most carcinogenic, ochratoxin = fibrotic, etc.)

• Dose and duration of exposure

• Nutrient status (antioxidants like glutathione can buffer damage)

• Genetics (P450 enzyme variants change detox rates)

If your liver issues have increased in the last years and you feel that the symtoms could be related to you, please, make an appointment with your doctor and let him check your liver markers in blood. If noone has an explanation for this worsening, mycotoxins could be causing your problems.

Make an appointment! We can throw light in the situation!