The potentially nephrotoxic substances in food: a review

Parisa Sadighara; Sara Mohammadi; Namra Irshad; Melina Sadighara; Reyhaneh Ramezankhani

doi:10.18502/jfsh.v9i3.13905

Parisa Sadighara Division of Food Safety & Hygiene, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Sara Mohammadi Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.
Namra Irshad Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Melina Sadighara Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Reyhaneh Ramezankhani Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jfsh.v9i3.13905

Keywords: Nephrotoxin; Food; Contamination; Detection; Mycotoxin

Abstract

Food is the most unavoidable substance for contamination. It can be contaminated naturally and unintentionally by toxins. Some of these food contaminants contain nephrotoxins. For this purpose, a narrative review study was performed to identify the types of nephrotoxin found in food. This study was performed with the keywords; nephrotoxin, contamination, pollution, and food. The nephrotoxic toxins consist mainly of three categories of toxins; mycotoxins, heavy metals, and Aristolochic acids. About 70% of the selected studies investigated ochratoxin A (OTA). Evaluation of OTA contamination in baby food and infant formula should be considered. From the category of nephrotoxic heavy metals in food, we can mention nickel, lead, and cadmium. Also, from compounds with radionucleotide activity, contamination with uranium was observed. Onions and carrots can be good biomarkers for contamination of an area with Aristolochic acids. Some of the nephrotoxins occurred more than permissible levels. Given that the kidneys are a vital organ of the body, therefore, human biomonitoring of nephrotoxins is recommended in countries where food is over the permissible level.