Welcome to my blog post ‘Mycotoxin Testing: What You Need To Know’.
You may also be interested in the section of my blog dedicated to mycotoxin posts, click here, in particular:
- Can Mould And Mycotoxins Cause Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
- Can Mould And Mycotoxin Exposure Cause Gut Problems Such As IBS?
- The Ultimate Guide To Mycotoxins
How Do You Test For Mycotoxins?
You can consider the following tests when you suspect mould illness:
- A urinary mycotoxin test
- An organic acid test
- A functional blood test
- A microbiome test
Let’s look at each in a little more detail.
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Urinary Mycotoxin Testing
The urinary mycotoxin test, available from Great Plains Laboratory and Real Time Labs, are arguably the most specific – they are assessing the amount of mycotoxins in the urine.
Organic Acid Testing For Mycotoxins
An organic acid test, also a urine test available from Great Plains Laboratory, looks at fungal metabolites. But it also provides information about detox capacity, mitochondrial function, neurotransmitter balances, nutrient status, energy metabolism and more.
Functional Blood Testing For Mycotoxins
We can look at inflammatory markers such as hs-CRP, homocysteine and ESR along with histamine and MMP9, among many others, that can provide further insight in regards to how to support you back to optimal health.
Watch my interview with Dr. Jill Crista, author of Break The Mold:
Microbiome Testing For Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins have been shown to cause extensive disruption to the microbiome and the function and structure of the gut. Click here to read my blog specifically on this topic. As a result, microbiome and gut function tests may be helpful to understand what’s going on in the gut.
SIBO is a common finding in those who suffer with mould illness
Are Mycotoxin Tests Accurate?
Mycotoxin testing is as much an art as it is a science. And no test is full proof. When considering the urinary mycotoxin test we need to appreciate that we are asking your capacity to detox and ‘flush out’ mycotoxin from the body, and thus your detox capacity will influence the results. This is why some times when you repeat the test, mycotoxin results look ‘worse’ because you are detoxing at a greater capacity than at the time of the previous test.
Dr. Nathan, an expert in this field, recommends supplementing liposomal glutathione for 7 days before doing the urinary mycotoxin test, as well as having a sauna or hot bath the night before to support detoxification. This can make a profound difference to the results.
When we appreciate that our natural production of glutathione can be inhibited when we have mould illness we can see the importance of this strategy.
What Are Symptoms Of Mycotoxins?
Symptoms may include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Allergies
- Sinus issues
- Histamine intolerance
- Rashes
- Brain fog
- Depression or anxiety
- A coated tongue
- Thrush
- Respiratory symptoms (e.g asthma)
- A feeling of a hangover on waking, even when you haven’t drunk the night before
- Kidney pain or disease
Summary Of Mycotoxin Testing:
- There is more than one test to consider but the urinary mycotoxin and organic acid test, in combination, work extremely well in my experience.
- Interpreting these tests is not an exact science and you need someone experienced in interpreting these results to truly understand your body burden of mycotoxins.
Alex is a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (IFMCP) and has a MSc in Personalised Nutrition. He is also a breathwork facilitator with a background in personal training and massage therapy. He also runs The Resiliency Program - a 24 week program aimed at building physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual resilience.
