Mould mycotoxin, Ochratoxin A, often persists
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a notorious mycotoxin in mould illness or CIRS, known for its persistence in the body and potential to cause significant health issues. It's the one that causes electric shocks and ice pick pains.
OTA is mainly produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium, and is commonly found in water-damaged buildings and contaminated foods like cereals, coffee, dried fruit, wine🍷
It's often challenging to eliminate, and I've seen it persist in testing when not specifically targeted longer term. Here's why
OTA is lipid-soluble and accumulates in fat-rich tissues and organs like the liver and kidneys. This makes it difficult to eliminate and means it slowly leaches from the tissues, continually exposing the body to its toxic effects
It has a notably long half-life, staying in the body for an extended period of time and causing ongoing inflammation and immune dysregulation
OTA is known for its kidney toxicity, where it can damage cells and be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. This reabsorption process slows down the body’s ability to fully clear OTA, leading to prolonged exposure
Insidiously, it can cross the blood-brain barrier and stay there, impacting the central nervous system and causing neurological symptoms like brain fog, headaches and cognitive dysfunction
OTA disrupts the liver's detoxification processes, impacting the body’s ability to metabolise and excrete not only ochratoxin but other toxins as well. This disruption compounds the inflammatory burden of CIRS
Even small, repeated exposures eg from coffee and other food, can sustain its levels in the body, making it challenging to fully eliminate
OTA requries a targeted approach involving
Antioxidant support for the immune system eg vitamin C, glutathione, and vitamins B D E
Specfic binders
The right diet to eleminate mycotoxins, support immunity, avoid recontamination
Elemination of coninfections eg fungal ones