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Determinants of recent aflatoxin exposure among pregnant women in rural Zimbabwe
Author(s) -
Smith Laura E.,
Mbuya Mduduzi N. N.,
Prendergast Andrew J.,
Turner Paul C.,
Ruboko Sandra,
Humphrey Jean H.,
Nelson Rebecca J.,
Chigumira Ancikaria,
Kembo George,
Stoltzfus Rebecca J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.201601049
Subject(s) - medicine , environmental health , hygiene , sanitation , pregnancy , urine , psychological intervention , biology , genetics , pathology , psychiatry
Scope Aflatoxins (AFs) are toxic secondary metabolites of Aspergillus species that contaminate staple foods such as maize and groundnuts. AF exposure during pregnancy has been associated with adverse birth outcomes in limited‐scale surveys in sub‐Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to describe the determinants of AF exposure, using urinary aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) biomarkers and data generated by the Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial for rural Zimbabwean women in early pregnancy. Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy is a large, cluster‐randomized community‐based trial in Zimbabwe designed to investigate the independent and combined effects of nutrition and hygiene interventions on early child growth. Methods and results Urine samples collected from 1580 pregnant women in rural Zimbabwe at median gestational age of 13.9 wk were measured for AFM1. AFM1 was detected in 30% of samples (median of exposed, 162 pg AFM1/mg creatinine; range 30–6046 pg AFM1/mg). In multivariable ordinal logistic models, geographical location (p<0.001), seasonality ( p < 0.001) and dietary practices ( p = 0.011) were significant predictors of urinary AFM1. Conclusion This is the largest AF biomarker survey conducted in Zimbabwe, and demonstrated frequent exposure in pregnant women with clear temporal and spatial variability in AF biomarker levels.