For example, fumonisin and some other fungal toxins are highly toxic, causing esophageal cancer in humans and fatal diseases in livestock that eat infected corn. Fumonisin also interferes with the cellular uptake of folic acid, a vitamin that reduces the risk of neural tube defects in developing fetuses, and thus can cause folic acid deficiency – and defects such as spina bifida – even when one’s diet contains what otherwise would be sufficient amounts of the vitamin.
比如说，伏马菌素（fumonisin）以及其他真菌都拥有极强毒性，不但会使人类罹患食道癌，还能令其他食用玉米的牲畜患上致命性疾病。伏马菌素还会阻止细胞对叶酸（一种维生素）的吸收，增加发育中的胎儿出现神经管缺陷的风险，一旦摄入了这类毒素，即便一个人的日常食谱中已经含有足量的该类维生素，也会出现叶酸缺乏症——甚至脊柱裂这样的缺陷。