Mycotoxin Exposure May Accelerate Kidney Damage in Diabetes Patients, Study Finds

A new study suggests that mycotoxins, toxic compounds produced by certain fungi, could accelerate kidney damage in individuals with diabetes. The research, presented at the 8th Jakarta Nephrology Meeting (JNM) 2026, was recognized as the best scientific work.

Led by Edwin Hadinata, a lecturer at Ciputra University's Faculty of Medicine, the study focused on two mycotoxins: Ochratoxin A (OTA) and Citrinin. These toxins are known to contaminate various food items, especially during humid storage conditions. The research found that exposure to these mycotoxins might exacerbate Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) by triggering a cell damage process called ferroptosis.

The study, titled "Integrated Toxicometabolomics and Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals Ferroptosis-Driven Renal Injury Induced by Ochratoxin A and Citrinin Co-Exposure in Experimental Diabetic Kidney Disease," employed a combination of in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods. It utilized UHPLC-Orbitrap HRMS-based metabolomics and multi-omics analysis to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind how OTA and Citrinin accelerate kidney damage in diabetic conditions.

Collaborative efforts from experts in nephrology, internal medicine, and biomedical fields, including Iri Kuswadi, Metalia Puspitasari, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, and Fahrul Nurkolis, guided the research. Their findings indicate that simultaneous exposure to OTA and Citrinin disrupts the xc⁻-GSH-GPX4 system, leading to ferroptosis, a form of cell death driven by oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. This disruption can hasten kidney injury in diabetic patients.

The research team emphasized that environmental factors, particularly mycotoxin contamination in food, may play a significant role in the progression of diabetes-related kidney disease. The results open avenues for developing therapies targeting the ferroptosis pathway and underscore the need for preventative measures to control mycotoxin exposure throughout the food supply chain. The World Health Organization notes that OTA can be found in products like coffee, cereals, wheat, corn, rice, spices, cocoa, and dried fruits if contaminated by fungi during storage. Citrinin is often reported in rice, cereals, nuts, spices, and fermented products like angkak.

“

Integrated Toxicometabolomics and Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals Ferroptosis-Driven Renal Injury Induced by Ochratoxin A and Citrinin Co-Exposure in Experimental Diabetic Kidney Disease