At Portland Clinic of Natural Health, we specialize in identifying and treating mold toxicity and mycotoxin illness, a growing but often misdiagnosed contributor to chronic health issues. One of the most frequently detected mycotoxins in urine mycotoxin testing is Ochratoxin A (OTA)—a toxin with serious effects on the kidneys, immune system, and overall detox pathways. OTA is also one of the most common mycotoxins found in Oregon, likely due to the damp climate that fosters mold growth in homes and buildings. (1)

What Makes OTA So Harmful?

OTA is unique because it is both lipophilic (fat-soluble) and hydrophilic (water-soluble). This means it can accumulate in fat and tissues while also circulating in blood and bodily fluids, making it particularly difficult to eliminate. Because of this dual solubility, OTA can:

• Persist in the body for long periods, continuously contributing to inflammation and toxicity.
• Affect multiple organ systems, particularly the kidneys, liver, nervous system, and immune function.
• Be redistributed throughout the body, re-entering circulation even after initial detox efforts. (2)

How Does OTA Affect the Body?

OTA is highly nephrotoxic, meaning it damages the kidneys, increasing the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), renal dysfunction, and hypertension. Additionally, it is:

• Immunosuppressive, weakening the body’s defenses against infections.
• Carcinogenic, with links to an increased risk of kidney and urinary tract cancers.
• Neurologically toxic, potentially contributing to brain fog, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction.
• Hepatotoxic, impacting the liver’s ability to process toxins effectively. (3)

Mold Toxicity and Chronic Infections

Because OTA suppresses the immune system, individuals exposed to it are more susceptible to chronic infections, including:

• Reactivated Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) (4)
• Chronic candidiasis (yeast overgrowth) (5)
• Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) (6)

Additionally, in genetically susceptible individuals, mold exposure can act as a trigger for autoimmunity, potentially leading to conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. (7)

Addressing OTA in Mycotoxin Illness

A crucial part of treating mold toxicity is to prioritize detoxification based on which mycotoxin is at the highest levels. (8) Because OTA can store in fat and tissues while also circulating in bodily fluids, a comprehensive detoxification approach is needed to support:

• Binding and elimination pathways to safely remove OTA from the body.
• Kidney, liver, and gut function to enhance detoxification and prevent redistribution.
• Nutritional and herbal support tailored to each individual’s detox capacity.

At Portland Clinic of Natural Health, we offer comprehensive testing and integrative treatment strategies for mold illness and mycotoxin detoxification. If you suspect that mold exposure is impacting your health, contact us today to explore targeted natural solutions.

Resources:

1. Wu TY, Khorramshahi T, Taylor LA, Bansal NS, Rodriguez B, Rey IR. Prevalence of Aspergillus-Derived Mycotoxins (Ochratoxin, Aflatoxin, and Gliotoxin) and Their Distribution in the Urinalysis of ME/CFS Patients. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Feb 12;19(4):2052. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19042052. PMID: 35206241; PMCID: PMC8872248.
2. Pfohl-Leszkowicz A, Manderville RA. Ochratoxin A: An overview on toxicity and carcinogenicity in animals and humans. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007 Jan;51(1):61-99. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200600137. Erratum in: Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007 Sep;51(9):1192. PMID: 17195275.
3. Bui-Klimke TR, Wu F. Ochratoxin A and human health risk: a review of the evidence. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2015;55(13):1860-9. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2012.724480. PMID: 24874522; PMCID: PMC4247821.
4. Accardi R, Gruffat H, Sirand C, Fusil F, Gheit T, Hernandez-Vargas H, Le Calvez-Kelm F, Traverse-Glehen A, Cosset FL, Manet E, Wild CP, Tommasino M. The mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 stimulates Epstein-Barr virus-induced B-cell transformation in in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Carcinogenesis. 2015 Nov;36(11):1440-51. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgv142. Epub 2015 Sep 30. PMID: 26424750.
5. Xu Y, Tang L, Xie Z, Duan X, Wang K, Zhu J, Huang Y, Yang K, Xu L, He H. Effects of mycotoxin-producing fungi on the fitness and gut bacterial community of the soil springtail Folsomia candida. Microbiol Spectr. 2024 Nov 5;12(11):e0103524. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.01035-24. Epub 2024 Sep 27. PMID: 39329523; PMCID: PMC11537059.
6. Guerre P. Mycotoxin and Gut Microbiota Interactions. Toxins (Basel). 2020 Dec 4;12(12):769. doi: 10.3390/toxins12120769. PMID: 33291716; PMCID: PMC7761905.
7. Kraft S, Buchenauer L, Polte T. Mold, Mycotoxins and a Dysregulated Immune System: A Combination of Concern? Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Nov 12;22(22):12269. doi: 10.3390/ijms222212269. PMID: 34830149; PMCID: PMC8619365.
8. Ding L, Han M, Wang X, Guo Y. Ochratoxin A: Overview of Prevention, Removal, and Detoxification Methods. Toxins (Basel). 2023 Sep 8;15(9):565. doi: 10.3390/toxins15090565. PMID: 37755991; PMCID: PMC10534725.