Dietary exposure to aflatoxin and fumonisin among Tanzanian children as determined using biomarkers of exposure. Issue 10 (17th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shirima, Candida P.; Kimanya, Martin E.; Kinabo, Joyce L.; Routledge, Michael N.; Srey, Chou; Wild, Christopher P.; Gong, Yun Yun
• Is Part Of: Molecular nutrition & food research. Volume 57:Issue 10(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1874
• Page End: 1881
• Publication Date: 2013-06-17
• Subjects: Food -- Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Food -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food Microbiology -- Periodicals; Food Technology -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; 664.0705
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201300116
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-4125

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="mnfr2006-sec-0010" sec-type="section"> <title>Scope</title> <p>The study aims to evaluate the status of dietary exposure to aflatoxin and fumonisin in young Tanzanian children, using previously validated biomarkers of exposure.</p> </sec> <sec id="mnfr2006-sec-0020" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods and results</title> <p>A total of 148 children aged 12–22 months, were recruited from three geographically distant villages in Tanzania; Nyabula, Kigwa, and Kikelelwa. Plasma aflatoxin‐albumin adducts (AF‐alb) and urinary fumonisin B1 (UFB1) were measured by ELISA and LC‐MS, respectively. AF‐alb was detectable in 84% of children, was highest in fully weaned children (<italic>p</italic> < 0.01) with higher levels being associated with higher maize intake (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05). AF‐alb geometric mean (95% CI) was 43.2 (28.7–65.0), 19.9 (13.5–29.2), and 3.6 (2.8–4.7) pg/mg albumin in children from Kigwa, Nyabula, and Kikelelwa, respectively. UFB1 was detectable in 96% of children and the level was highest in children who had been fully weaned (<italic>p</italic> < 0.01). The geometric UFB1 mean (95% CI) was 327.2 (217.1–493.0), 211.7 (161.1–278.1), and 82.8 (58.3–117.7) pg/mL in Kigwa, Nyabula, and Kikelelwa, respectively. About 82% of all the children were exposed to both mycotoxins.</p> </sec> <sec id="mnfr2006-sec-0030" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Young children in Tanzania are chronically exposed to both aflatoxin and fumonisin through contaminated diet, although the level of exposure varies markedly between the three villages studied.</p> </sec> </abstract>