Mycotoxin Testing: A Missing Link in Chronic Health

Fatigue that won’t lift. Brain fog that defies bloodwork. Gut symptoms that persist despite elimination diets. For some patients, the missing link isn’t more supplements; it’s hidden exposure to toxic mold. And the only way to uncover it is to test what the body is already trying to eliminate.

Understanding Mycotoxins: The Hidden Threat to Your Health

Table of Contents:

1. When the Usual Protocols Don’t Work

2. Why Mycotoxins Matter More Than We Think

3. How We Test and Why It Works

4. Who Should Be Tested

5. What We Do With the Results

6. Case Study

7. The Bigger Picture

8. Let’s Keep Exploring Together

   
   

When the Usual Protocols Don’t Work

In practice, I started to notice an overlap. Patients with chronic, multi-system symptoms who had already tried gut protocols, hormone balancing, and detox support would still hit a wall. They often described subtle exposures: an old office building, a moldy rental, or years of living near water damage. But it wasn’t until I began running urine-based mycotoxin tests that a new layer of clarity emerged.

These patients weren’t just “sensitive.” They were carrying a toxic load. In many cases, symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or histamine intolerance didn’t resolve until we addressed that burden directly. What looked like autoimmunity or burnout was sometimes mold toxicity in disguise.

Why Mycotoxins Matter More Than We Think

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi like Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. These compounds contaminate grains, nuts, coffee, dried fruits, and even spices. They remain stable through food processing and storage conditions, making them nearly impossible to detect without testing (Khan R. et al., 2024).

Their effects are far from benign. Mycotoxins have been shown to be immunosuppressive, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, neurotoxic, and in some cases, carcinogenic (Di Salvo E. et al., 2025). Chronic exposure, even at low levels, can interfere with gut barrier integrity, endocrine signaling, mitochondrial function, and detox capacity (Sadeghi P. et al., 2024).

And unlike foodborne illness, symptoms don’t always come fast. They often unfold slowly: headaches, sleep issues, dizziness, GI symptoms, anxiety, and memory changes. This is why many patients live with them for years without a clear explanation.

Many of these individuals have already explored countless functional tests, only to come up short. Mycotoxins add a critical layer that is often missed, especially in patients with complex, multi-system complaints.

How We Test and Why It Works

To assess mycotoxin load in patients, I use a urine-based panel that screens for 29 different mycotoxins. These include aflatoxins, trichothecenes, ochratoxin A, gliotoxin, and zearalenone, some of the most biologically active toxins produced by mold species common in both food and indoor environments.

The test uses liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), a methodology capable of detecting mycotoxins at parts-per-trillion levels. It also accounts for urine dilution by normalizing results to creatinine concentration, increasing clinical accuracy.

Why urine? Because mycotoxins are lipophilic, stored in fat tissue, and slowly released. Measuring their excretion gives us a window into total body burden and how well the body is clearing them.

Who Should Be Tested?

I consider this test for patients who:

• Live or work in water-damaged or older buildings

• Report chronic sinus issues, coughing, or chemical sensitivity

• Have persistent fatigue, anxiety, or “mystery symptoms” unresponsive to other protocols

• Have autoimmune diagnoses or neurological symptoms without a clear origin

  
  

It’s also useful when symptoms worsen after moving into a new home, renovating a space, or after a major immune challenge like surgery or infection.

What We Do With the Results

If mycotoxins are detected, we don’t stop at avoidance. We build a structured protocol that often includes:

• Binders to interrupt enterohepatic recirculation

• Liver and kidney support using targeted nutrients like glutathione, NAC, dandelion, and taurine

• Mitochondrial repair for those with neurologic symptoms

• Environmental testing and remediation referrals when needed

  
  

We also frequently run additional labs, including:

• Gut Zoomer or Wheat Zoomer (to assess intestinal permeability and dysbiosis)

• Inflammation and thyroid panels (to identify autoimmune or endocrine impact)

• Heavy metals or environmental toxins (to evaluate co-burden)

  
  

Case Study: When Testing Changes Everything

Paco, a 34-year-old patient, came to the clinic with heart palpitations, digestive distress, extreme fatigue after activity, tingling in his hands, and brain fog. Multiple prior tests, including MRI, EKG, endoscopy, and bloodwork, were all normal. After reviewing his history and potential exposures, we ran an EnviroTOX Panel: Organic Acids Test (OAT), Glyphosate Test, and MycoTOX Profile®.

The OAT showed yeast and fungal markers, Clostridia overgrowth, neurotransmitter imbalances, and nutrient deficiencies. Glyphosate levels were near the 75th percentile, likely from frequent golfing and conventional food intake. The MycoTOX Profile® revealed multiple high mycotoxins, with Gliotoxin over 3000 ng/g plus elevated Sterigmatocystin and Aflatoxin M1.

We built a plan around detoxification, gut rebalancing, and nervous system support, along with targeted binders, antimicrobials, and nutrient repletion. Mold testing found hidden contamination in his ceiling, which was remediated. Within months, Paco’s brain fog, palpitations, and tingling resolved. His exercise tolerance returned, and he could eat a more varied diet with fewer supplements. This case highlights how advanced toxin testing can uncover burdens that standard diagnostics miss.

The Bigger Picture

We’re still learning about the long-term impact of chronic mycotoxin exposure. While most regulatory frameworks set thresholds for food contamination, they don’t account for individual susceptibility, cumulative exposure, or indoor air sources (Di Salvo E. et al., 2025).

That’s why testing is so valuable. It doesn’t just tell us if exposure happened; it shows us how much, which types, and what systems might be affected. Mycotoxins can interact synergistically, meaning combined exposures may have greater effects than individual compounds alone (Khan R. et al., 2024).

Because symptoms are often diffuse or delayed, many cases remain underdiagnosed without objective measurement. Sometimes, the root cause isn’t in their habits. It’s in their environment. Without testing, we’d never know.

With the right tools, we can stop guessing and start connecting dots.

Let’s Keep Exploring Together

If this article sparked something in your clinical thinking or personal journey, I encourage you to share it with colleagues or patients navigating complex, unresolved symptoms. The role of mycotoxins in chronic illness is still underestimated, and your perspective can help shift the conversation.

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References:

1. Khan R., Anwar F., Ghazali F.M. (2024). A comprehensive review of mycotoxins: Toxicology, detection, and effective mitigation approaches. Heliyon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28361

2. Di Salvo E., Bartolomeo G., Vadalà R., Costa R., Cicero N. (2025). Mycotoxins in Ready-to-Eat Foods: Regulatory Challenges and Modern Detection Methods. MDPI. Toxics. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13060485

3. Sadeghi P., Sohrabi H., Reza Majidi M., Eftekhari A., Zargari F., de la Guardia M., Ali Mokhtarzadeh A. (2024). Mycotoxins detection in food samples through lateral flow assays (LFAs)–An update for status and prospect. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2024.117722