prof. Sarah De Saeger (PhD)

Foods may be contaminated by microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) during cultivation, harvest, storage, processing, distribution, or preparation. Under certain conditions, some fungi that contaminate crops may produce toxic components, such as mycotoxins. Many different classes of mycotoxins (aflatoxins, trichothecenes, fumonisins, etc.) may be produced by a range of fungi. Contaminated crops may be consumed directly, or indirectly, through animal products (meat, milk, etc.) raised on contaminated feed.

Mycotoxins can cause a wide range of toxic effects in humans, from reportedly inducing carcinogenesis or DNA damage, to targeting specific organs, like the kidney, liver, or intestines. Although the health effects of some specific mycotoxins are already well investigated (like aflatoxins), the effect of chronically consuming multiple mycotoxins has not been researched. Therefore, the research line “mycotoxins and human health” aims to investigate health effects, particularly cancer risk, due to long-term consumption of multiple mycotoxins.

The research studies – in close collaboration with the World Health Organization – International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO-IARC) will use one of the largest cohorts in Europe, including half a million subjects from ten countries, namely The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study cohort. Participants’ dietary mycotoxin exposure will be investigated via dietary questionnaires and blood samples, collected at baseline of the EPIC study, which started in 1992, and using multi-mycotoxin levels in foods obtained via EFSA and its member states. Intakes among cancer cases will be compared against non-cancer cases, with a main focus on colorectal, kidney, and hepatocellular cancers. These analyses should tell us more about the relationship between intake of multiple mycotoxins and cancer risk. Moreover, through collaborations in Malawi, dietary exposure to multi-mycotoxins as a predisposing factor for oesophageal and hepatocellular cancer is being investigated.
 

• Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University
• Doctor in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University
• Full professor and director at the Centre of Excellence in Mycotoxicology and Public Health