Editorial: Malnutrition and mycotoxins

Literature findings are reviewed concerning the question of whether kwashiorkor is a purely nutritional disease, or whether malnutrition renders children susceptible to unknown etiological factors that precipitate kwashiorkor. Carcinogenic aflatoxins are included in the mycotoxins produced by fungi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAnnals of tropical paediatrics Vol. 2; no. 3; pp. 99 - 100
Main Author Hendrickse, R.G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 1982
Subjects
aflatoxins
child nutrition
etiology
food and nutrition controversies
fungi
kwashiorkor
literature reviews
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Summary:Literature findings are reviewed concerning the question of whether kwashiorkor is a purely nutritional disease, or whether malnutrition renders children susceptible to unknown etiological factors that precipitate kwashiorkor. Carcinogenic aflatoxins are included in the mycotoxins produced by fungi in foods stored in humid and warm conditions. Recent studies in the Sudan show aflatoxin contamination in many commonly eaten foods, and in the blood and urine of local chidren; children with kwashiorkor had frequent occurrences and higher blood levels of aflatoxins than normal children. This concept is not easily reconciled with the classic nutritional explanations for kwashiorkor. Additional studies to clarify this confusion are needed. (wz)
ISSN:0272-4939