Influence of dietary fibre on plasma and urinary levels of zearalenone and metabolites in swine.

The effect of dietary fibre on zearalenone absorption, metabolic pathway and urinary excretion was investigated in a prepubertal gilt. Levels of zearalenone and metabolites were measured in the portal vein, in the carotid artery and in urine after feeding one portion of a standard diet or a high fibre diet (85 % standard diet + 15 % oat husks), both containing 5 ppm zearalenone. Independently of diet, the levels of zearalenone in the portal vein were higher than in the carotid artery during the following 48 hrs. Regarding the metabolite α-zearalenol, strikingly lower systemic levels were observed when high fibre diet was fed to the animal. The decrease of α-zearalenol level, due to high fibre diet, was also reflected in urine. The total amount of zearalenone and α-zearalenol excreted in urine, during 24 hours after feeding, was about 9 % of the zearalenone intake, independently of diet. Almost all zearalenone and α-zearalenol were found conjugated with glucuronic acid in both plasma and urine.