Urinary fumonisin B sub(1) and estimated fumonisin intake in women from high- and low-exposure communities in Guatemala

• Published in: Molecular nutrition & food research Vol. 58; no. 5; pp. 973 - 983
• Main Authors: Torres, Olga, Matute, Jorge, Gelineau-van Waes, Janee, Maddox, Joyce R, Gregory, Simon G, Ashley-Koch, Allison E, Showker, Jency L, Zitomer, Nicholas C, Voss, Kenneth A, Riley, Ronald T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2014
• Subjects: Zea mays
• ISSN: 1613-4125; 1613-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201300481

Scope Fumonisin (FB) intake can be high when maize is a dietary staple. We determined (i) urinary FB (UFB) in women consuming maize in high- and low-exposure communities in Guatemala, (ii) the FB levels in maize, (iii) the relationship between UFB and FB intake, and (iv) the relative excretion of UFB sub(1), UFB sub(2), and UFB sub(3). Methods and results Urine and maize were analyzed for FB for 1 year in three departments. Maize consumption was estimated by an interview questionnaire. Fumonisin B sub(1), B sub(2), and B sub(3) (FB sub(1), FB sub(2) and FB sub(3)), were detected in 100% of maize samples. FB sub(1) in maize and urine was significantly higher in Jutiapa compared to Chimaltenango or Escuintla. The FB intake paralleled UFB sub(1) in a dose-dependent manner but UFB sub(1) was present in much higher levels than UFB sub(2) or UFB sub(3) compared to maize. Conclusion In Jutiapa, agroecological conditions favored FB production. UFB sub(1) mirrored the estimated FB intake. UFB sub(1) > 0.1 ng/mL resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the risk of exceeding FB intake of 2 mu g/kg b.w./day compared to women with no detectable UFB sub(1). More than 50% exceeded 2 mu g/kg b.w./day when UFB sub(1) was >0.5 ng/mL. UFB sub(2) and UFB sub(3) were rarely detected confirming that FB sub(1) is either absorbed better or preferentially excreted in urine.