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Seasonal Variation in Urinary Aflatoxin (AFM1) of Lactating Women from Rural Households in Southern Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Gebreegziabher Tafere,
Tsegaye Workneh,
Stoecker Barbara J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.1149.23
Subject(s) - aflatoxin , urine , dry season , zoology , wet season , population , biology , veterinary medicine , toxicology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , environmental health , ecology
Aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) are highly toxic compounds produced by Aspergillus species. These contaminants can be present in a wide range of food stuffs especially in humid and hot climates. AFM1 is a metabolic byproduct of the potent carcinogen AFB1. As well as being carcinogenic, aflatoxins have been associated with impaired growth in infants and children. Despite the high likelihood of exposure to these contaminants, there have been only a few studies done in Ethiopia. Urine samples were collected from 101 lactating women during 2013 and short‐term aflatoxin exposures were assessed. Samples were collected in a dry season (January to February) and a wet season (June to August). Mean ± SD age of mothers was 23 ± 4 y. Mean maternal BMI was 21.3 ± 2.5 and mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC) was 23.1 ± 1.9 cm. Corn and enset are the major staple foods of the study population. Corn would have been recently harvested in January to February and would have been stored for several months by June. Urine samples were analyzed for AFM1 using ELISA kits from Helica Biosystems Inc. AFM1 was detected in 58% and 68% of urine samples in the dry and wet seasons respectively. Among those who were exposed, the median (IQR) AFM1 was 75 (42, 165) pg/mL in the dry season and 152 (77, 352) pg/mL in the wet season. The difference of AFM1 between the two seasons was significant (p < 0.001). High urinary AFM1 in the dry season was correlated with high urinary AFM1 in the wet season (r = 0.381, p = 0.009) and this association was increased when urinary AFM1 was corrected for creatinine (r = 0.418, p = 0.001). Because of the humid and hot climatic conditions of the study area and poor quality of food storage the women are at high risk of dietary exposure of aflatoxin. Further studies are recommended to assess the prevalence of the problem and its related health implications. Support or Funding Information Supported by Oklahoma State University