Open AccessRisk of dietary and breastmilk exposure to mycotoxins among lactating women and infants 2–4 months in northern India
Author(s) -
Mehta Rukshan V.,
Wenndt Anthony J.,
Girard Amy Webb,
Taneja Sunita,
Ranjan Samriddhi,
Ramakrishnan Usha,
Martorell Reynaldo,
Ryan P. Barry,
Rangiah Kannan,
Young Melissa F.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
maternal and child nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1740-8709
pISSN - 1740-8695
DOI - 10.1111/mcn.13100
Subject(s) - aflatoxin , mycotoxin , breast milk , medicine , ochratoxin a , fumonisin , food science , tolerable daily intake , breast feeding , zoology , fumonisin b1 , toxicology , biology , body weight , pediatrics , biochemistry
Mycotoxins are carcinogenic secondary metabolites of fungi that have been linked to infant growth faltering. In this study, we quantified co‐occurring mycotoxins in breast milk and food samples from Haryana, India, and characterized determinants of exposure. Deterministic risk assessment was conducted for mothers and infants. We examined levels of eight mycotoxins (Aflatoxin B 1 , B 2 , G 1 , G 2 , M 1 , M 2 ; Ochratoxin A, B) in 100 breast milk samples (infants 2–4 months) using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ), fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ) and deoxynivalenol (DON) were detected in several food items ( n = 298) using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. We report novel data on the presence of mycotoxins in breast milk samples from India. Whereas breast milk concentrations (AFM 1 median: 13.7; range: 3.9–1200 ng/L) remain low, AFM 1 was detected above regulatory limits in 27% of animal milk samples. Additionally, 41% of infants were above provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) limits for AFM 1 due to consumption of breast milk (mean: 3.04, range: 0.26–80.7 ng kg −1 bw day −1 ). Maternal consumption of breads ( p < 0.05) was associated with breast milk AFM 1 exposure. AFB 1 (μg/kg) was detected in dried red chilies (15.7; 0–302.3), flour (3.13; 0–214.9), groundnuts (0; 0–249.1), maize (56.0; 0–836.7), pearl millet (1.85; 0–160.2), rice (0; 0–195.6), wheat (1.9; 0–196.0) and sorghum (0; 0–63.5). FB 1 (mg/kg) was detected in maize (0; 0–61.4), pearl millet (0; 0–35.4) and sorghum (0.95; 0–33.2). DON was not detected in food samples. Mothers in our study exceeded PMTDI recommendations for AFB 1 due to consumption of rice and flour (mean: 75.81; range: 35.2–318.2 ng kg −1 bw day −1 ). Our findings show the presence of Aflatoxin B 1 and M 1 at various levels of the food chain and in breast milk, with estimated intakes exceeding PMTDI recommendations. Aflatoxins are known carcinogens and have also been linked to stunting in children. Their presence across the food system and in breast milk is concerning, thus warranting further research to replicate and expand on our findings and to understand implications for maternal and child health.