Citrinin (Dihydrocitrinone DHC)
Dihydrocitrinone (DHC) is the main substance your body makes after it has been exposed to citrinin (CIT or CTN)—a toxin produced by certain molds, especially Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Monascus. Your kidneys filter DHC into your urine, so finding DHC on a urine test (like the MycoTOX Profile™) is a sign that your body has recently encountered citrinin and is clearing it.
Common exposure routes include:
-
Food: stored grains/cereals, spices, herbal products, and fermented foods; Monascus/red yeast rice products can carry citrinin as an unwanted contaminant.
-
Air & dust: inhalation in damp/water-damaged buildings or dusty indoor spaces.
-
Skin contact: far less common, but possible.
Key idea: DHC in urine = evidence of recent citrinin exposure that your body is excreting. It does not tell you precisely where the exposure came from.
Why clinicians measure DHC
-
Sensitive biomarker of exposure: DHC is the major urinary metabolite of citrinin and is widely used in human biomonitoring studies. Detecting it in urine reflects recent intake/exposure.
-
Public health relevance: Surveys in Europe and elsewhere commonly detect CIT and/or DHC in a large share of urine samples, indicating that low-level dietary exposure is widespread.
-
Kidney focus: Citrinin is best known for its kidney (nephrotoxic) effects; experimental work links its toxicity to mitochondrial dysfunction/oxidative stress in kidney cells.
How the MycoTOX Profile reports it
-
The MycoTOX Profile™ (Mosaic Diagnostics) is a urine test that measures multiple mycotoxins, including citrinin via its metabolite DHC.
-
Results are creatinine-corrected to reduce the impact of how diluted or concentrated your urine is (e.g., from hydration differences). This improves the reliability of comparisons over time.
What can raise DHC?
-
Dietary sources: foods from the citrinin literature include grains and cereals, spices/herbs, and Monascus/red yeast rice products (a potential contaminant in some supplements/foods).
-
Indoor environments: water-damaged buildings and dust can contribute to inhalation exposure; this test cannot identify the location of the source.
-
Co-exposures: citrinin can occur alongside other mycotoxins; some research explores combined effects with ochratoxin A (OTA), so your clinician may view your DHC result in the context of the full panel.
How to read your result
Always interpret results with your clinician; the following is educational, not medical advice.
-
Undetectable / very low DHC: Suggests minimal recent exposure or effective clearance. Keep healthy storage and environmental habits.
-
Borderline / slightly elevated DHC: May reflect recent dietary exposure (e.g., spice/heavy-grain meals or a red yeast rice supplement). Consider diet and environment review; retest after changes.
-
Elevated to high DHC: Indicates meaningful recent exposure. Work with your clinician to:
-
Review diet (including supplements that contain or may be contaminated with red yeast rice) and how foods are stored.
-
Screen your indoor environment (home/work) for moisture intrusion or visible mold and address sources.
-
Recheck in 4–8 weeks after interventions to confirm trends.
Evidence shows creatinine-indexed urine values help track change over time more reliably than raw concentrations.
-
Symptoms & health context (why this matters)
Citrinin’s primary target is the kidney, where it can impair mitochondrial function and increase membrane permeability in experimental models. Regulatory reviews characterize citrinin as nephrotoxic and set conservative intake reference values due to limited human dose-response data. Animal and mechanistic studies also discuss genotoxic/embryotoxic signals, which is why minimizing exposure is advised.
Practical steps to reduce exposure
Food & supplements
-
Avoid/limit red yeast rice products unless medically indicated and quality-controlled; citrinin contamination is a known issue.
-
Rotate grains and cereals; do not consume food that smells musty or shows spoilage. Store grains/flours/spices cool, dry, and sealed.
-
Buy from reputable brands with robust quality testing; be cautious with informal/herbal products lacking batch controls.
Home & workplace
-
Address leaks, humidity, and condensation; fix water damage quickly.
-
Improve ventilation and consider HEPA filtration for particulates/dust.
-
Professional inspection may be warranted if you suspect hidden moisture/mold (the urine test doesn’t identify the building source).
General
-
Support good hydration and nutrition; while creatinine correction reduces urine-dilution effects in reporting, avoiding extreme over- or under-hydration before sample collection is still sensible.
Retesting & follow-up
-
If your DHC was elevated, many clinicians retest after diet/environment changes to document improvement.
-
Consider viewing DHC alongside other mycotoxins on the panel to understand the broader exposure pattern.
FAQ
Is DHC the same as citrinin?
No. DHC is the metabolite your body makes from citrinin; measuring DHC in urine is a practical way to see recent citrinin exposure.
Does a high DHC level mean kidney damage?
Not necessarily. DHC reflects exposure, not injury. However, because citrinin is nephrotoxic in experimental studies, reducing exposure and following up with your clinician is recommended.
Where does citrinin most often come from?
Typically foods (grains/cereals, spices, some fermented products) and, less predictably, red yeast rice supplements if contaminated. Environmental sources include damp buildings.
How common is measurable DHC?
Human biomonitoring surveys in Europe have frequently detected CIT and/or DHC in urine, indicating widespread low-level exposure, largely from diet.
Does hydration change my number?
The MycoTOX Profile indexes results to creatinine, which helps correct for urine dilution and makes results more comparable over time.
Science & safety notes
-
Mechanism: mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are central to citrinin’s toxicity in kidney and liver cells.
-
Risk benchmarks: EFSA identifies nephrotoxicity as the critical effect and has derived conservative reference values for human exposure; citrinin contamination of Monascus/red yeast rice products is specifically noted in risk reviews.
-
Co-occurrence: Studies explore combined effects of citrinin with ochratoxin A (OTA), underlining the value of looking at the whole mycotoxin pattern rather than a single analyte.
References
-
Mosaic Diagnostics. MycoTOX Profile™ overview and creatinine correction FAQs. (MosaicDX)
-
Faisal Z, et al. Dihydrocitrinone as the major urinary metabolite of citrinin in humans. (PMC)
-
Kamle M, et al. Citrinin contamination in food/feed and producing species. (PMC)
-
EFSA & UK COT summaries on citrinin nephrotoxicity and levels of no concern. (European Food Safety Authority)
-
Degen GH, et al. CIT/DHC in German children and adults—widespread dietary exposure. (MDPI)
-
Twaruzek M, et al. Red yeast rice supplements as a potential source of citrinin. (PMC)
What does it mean if your Citrinin (Dihydrocitrinone DHC) result is too high?
Elevated Citrinin (Dihydrocitrinone, DHC) — What to Do
First-line approach
Treating an elevated DHC is primarily about removing the exposure source. DHC reflects recent citrinin exposure, not necessarily a fungal infection in the body. Most people improve by tightening food/supplement quality and fixing moisture/mold issues in indoor spaces.
About prescription antifungals
-
Itraconazole, nystatin, etc. are for confirmed fungal infections, prescribed by a clinician after diagnosis.
-
They are not standard treatments for mycotoxin exposure itself (like citrinin). Don’t start or stop prescription medications without your clinician’s guidance.
When to retest
-
After changes to diet/supplements and environment, retest in 6–12 weeks to confirm DHC is trending down.
-
If remediation will take longer (e.g., building repairs), retest once those steps are complete.
How to reduce exposure to Citrinin (practical steps)
Food & supplements
-
Inspect and rotate dry goods: Discard grains, flours, cereals, nuts, and spices/herbs that are musty, discolored, or clumped. Buy smaller amounts and rotate stock.
-
Store smart: Keep dry goods cool, dry, and sealed. Avoid long storage in warm/humid areas.
-
Choose reputable brands: This matters for nuts, nut butters, and spices—processing/roasting doesn’t guarantee safety.
-
Check red yeast rice (Monascus) products: Citrinin can be an unwanted contaminant. Prefer quality-controlled brands or pause use and discuss alternatives with your clinician.
-
Diversify the diet: A varied diet reduces the chance of repeat exposure from a single food category.
Indoor environment (a common source of ongoing exposure)
-
Find and fix moisture: Address leaks, condensation, and water damage promptly; dehumidify to ~40–50% RH where needed.
-
Improve air & dust control: Ventilate well; consider HEPA filtration for particulates; vacuum with HEPA and damp-wipe dusty surfaces.
-
Professional help: If you suspect hidden moisture or persistent musty odors, consider an assessment by qualified indoor environmental professionals.
“Support” options (use thoughtfully)
Some clinicians consider the following as adjuncts while you remove sources. Evidence quality for lowering DHC specifically is limited, so discuss with your clinician:
-
Adsorbents (“binders”) such as activated charcoal (time away from medications/supplements due to interference).
-
Probiotics to support gut barrier and regularity.
-
Nutritional antioxidants (e.g., glutathione or precursors) as part of a balanced plan.
-
Herbal antimicrobials (e.g., oregano oil) are not a substitute for source control and may not be necessary without a diagnosed infection.
Priority remains source removal (diet + environment). Adjuncts, if used, should be individualized and supervised.
When to involve your clinician sooner
-
You’re pregnant, trying to conceive, or have kidney disease.
-
You have persistent high DHC despite remediation.
-
You also have other elevated mycotoxins or concerning symptoms.
What this result does—and doesn’t—mean
-
Does: Indicate recent exposure that your body is excreting.
-
Doesn’t: Identify the exact source or prove organ damage. That’s why the combination of diet/supplement audit, environmental check, and retesting is key.
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
Frequently asked questions
Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
- Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
- Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
- Upload lab reports from any lab
- View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
- Track trends and monitor changes over time
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export and share your full lab history
- Access your results anytime, from any device
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 10000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
- The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
- GI-MAP,
- The NutrEval FMV®,
- The ION Profile,
- Amino Acids Profile,
- Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
- Organic Acids Test,
- Organix Comprehensive Profile,
- Toxic Metals,
- Complete Blood Count (CBC),
- Metabolic panel,
- Thyroid panel,
- Lipid Panel,
- Urinalysis,
- And many, many more.
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.