What does the Citrinin / Dihydrocitrinin (DHC), Urine test measure?

Why is Citrinin / Dihydrocitrinin (DHC), Urine measured?

Urinary citrinin/DHC detection reflects recent dietary or environmental citrinin exposure. Dietary sources include contaminated grains, red yeast rice supplements (Monascus purpureus-fermented products contain citrinin as a co-metabolite with monacolin K/lovastatin — a significant concern in patients taking red yeast rice for cholesterol management), and water-damaged building environments. In functional medicine, elevated urinary citrinin alongside ochratoxin A is assessed as a combined nephrotoxic burden. The red yeast rice association is clinically important — practitioners should specifically document red yeast rice supplement use alongside the requisition form, as this is a common and overlooked source of citrinin exposure in supplement-using populations.

Reference ranges

Standard reference

# REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm Mosaic Diagnostics reference range for urinary citrinin and its metabolite dihydrocitrinin — DHC is the primary urinary citrinin metabolite and the more analytically stable form. Confirm whether citrinin and DHC are reported as discrete values or combined.

Functional medicine optimal

# REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm Mosaic Diagnostics' interpretive zones for urinary citrinin/DHC.

Units

ppb (µg/L), ng/g creatinine

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.