People who consume seafood may be at an increased risk of kidney damage, according to a recent study.
Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina found that domoic acid, also called "Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning," is a chemical produced by algae that can accumulate in seafood and is known to cause brain damage, is toxic to the kidneys. They also found that the neurotoxin can be damaging to the kidneys at much lower concentrations than the brain, according to a press release.
Domoic Acid is a very stable, heat resistant toxin that is becoming more prominent in coastal regions, likely due to environmental changes. Researchers said the neurotoxin can accumulate in mussels, clams, scallops, and fish.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set a legal limit of domoic acid in seafood based primarily on its adverse neurological effects.
"We have found that domoic acid damages kidneys at concentrations that are 100 times lower than what causes neurological effects," researcher Darwin Bell said in a statement. "This means that humans who consume seafood may be at an increased risk of kidney damage possibly leading to kidney failure and dialysis."
Because the chemical is cleared from the body through the kidneys, investigators looked to see if the toxin might also have detrimental effects on these organs.
For the study, they gave mice varying doses of domoic acid and assessed animals' kidney health. The team found that the kidney is much more sensitive to this toxin than the brain.
Although their findings need to be verified in humans, researchers said they would like to see increased awareness and monitoring of domoic acid levels in all seafood. They suggest that the FDA reconsider the legal limit of domoic acid in food due to its kidney toxicity.
