Dietary Supplements Based on Red Yeast Rice-A Source of Citrinin?

Toxins (Basel). 2021 Jul 17;13(7):497. doi: 10.3390/toxins13070497.

Abstract

Citrinin (CIT) is secondary metabolite of filamentous molds. This mycotoxin has nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, embryocidal, and fetotoxic properties. It is also produced by several species of the three genera Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., and Monascus spp., which are used to make red yeast rice (RYR). The material for this study consisted of 15 dietary supplements containing an extract of fermented red rice, available on the Polish market. Samples were extracted using a MeOH-H2O mixture, cleaned-up with an immunoaffinity CitriTest HPLC column, and quantified by HPLC-FLD. None of the analyzed samples contained CIT above the established limit of detection (LOD). Studies on the presence of toxic metabolites in red yeast rice show the importance of regulating this product and of clear information on the label regarding the standardized amounts of monacolin.

Keywords: CIT; contamination; dietary supplements; mycotoxin; red yeast rice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Products*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Citrinin*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Fermentation
  • Limit of Detection
  • Lovastatin
  • Monascus
  • Oryza
  • Reference Standards

Substances

  • Biological Products
  • red yeast rice
  • Citrinin
  • Lovastatin