A review on the use of mycotoxin sequestering agents in agricultural livestock production

Among the strategies utilized to reduce the toxic effects of mycotoxins on agricultural livestock, the inclusion of sequestering agents to diets is the most commonly practiced. Unfortunately, data on the mode of action of these sequestering agents and in vivo experiments published in peer reviewed journals have been limited. In the last 10 years a new wave of interest has led to experiments that have begun to shed light on the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of mycotoxin sequestering agents. The following review summarizes the literature available on the utilization of nonnutritive sequestering agents to minimize the toxicological effects of mycotoxins and to reduce the potential carryover of the toxins into the human food chain. The principal classes of sequestering agents - silicate minerals, activated charcoals, polymers, chlorophyll products, and yeast-derived products - will be discussed.