Quantitative correlation of aflatoxin biomarker with dietary intake of aflatoxin in Tanzanian children

• Published in: Biomarkers Vol. 19; no. 5; pp. 430 - 435
• Main Authors: Routledge, Michael N., Kimanya, Martin E., Shirima, Candida P., Wild, Christopher P., Gong, Yun Yun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 01.08.2014; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Aflatoxin albumin adduct; aflatoxins; Aflatoxins - administration & dosage; Aflatoxins - blood; Albumins; biomarker; Biomarkers - blood; dietary intake; early life exposure; Eating; Female; Food Contamination - analysis; Food Contamination - prevention & control; Humans; Infant; Linear Models; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Tanzania; Weaning; Zea mays; Tanzania; aflatoxins; Aflatoxin albumin adduct; dietary intake; biomarker; early life exposure
• ISSN: 1354-750X; 1366-5804
• DOI: 10.3109/1354750X.2014.924998

Abstract The association between aflatoxin intake from maize-based weaning food and aflatoxin albumin adducts (AF-alb) was investigated in 148 Tanzanian children aged between 12 and 22 months, at 2 visits 6 months apart. At the first visit (storage season) there was a significant correlation at the individual level between AF-alb (geometric mean 43.2 pg/mg albumin) and aflatoxin intake (geometric mean 81.7 ng/kg b.w./d) through maize-based weaning food (r = 0.51, p < 0.01). Overall, this correlation was r = 0.43 (p < 0.01). The AF-alb level in weaning-age children in Tanzania closely reflects aflatoxin intake from maize in weaning food. Exposure levels suggest children may be at risk from aflatoxin associated health effects.