A Prospective Study of Growth and Biomarkers of Exposure to Aflatoxin and Fumonisin during Early Childhood in Tanzania

Candida P. Shirima; Martin E. Kimanya; Michael N. Routledge; Chou Srey; Joyce L. Kinabo; Hans-Ulrich Humpf; Christopher P. Wild; Yu-Kang Tu; Yun Yun Gong

doi:10.1289/ehp.1408097

A Prospective Study of Growth and Biomarkers of Exposure to Aflatoxin and Fumonisin during Early Childhood in Tanzania

Candida P. Shirima, Martin E. Kimanya, Michael N. Routledge, Chou Srey, Joyce L. Kinabo, Hans-Ulrich Humpf, Christopher P. Wild, Yu-Kang Tu, Yun Yun Gong

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

149 Citations (Scopus)

260 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Aflatoxin and fumonisin are toxic food contaminants. Knowledge about effects of their exposure and co-exposure on child growth is inadequate.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between child growth and aflatoxin and fumonisin exposure in Tanzania.

METHODS: A total of 166 children were recruited at 6 to 14 months of age and studied at recruitment, and at the sixth and twelfth month following recruitment. Blood and urine samples were collected and analysed for plasma aflatoxin albumin adducts (AF-alb) using ELISA, and urinary fumonisin B1 (UFB1) using LC-MS, respectively. Anthropometric measurements were taken and growth index Z-scores were computed.

RESULTS: AF-alb geometric mean concentrations (95% confidence intervals) were 4.7 (3.9, 5.6), 12.9 (9.9, 16.7) and 23.5 (19.9, 27.7) pg/mg albumin at recruitment, six months, and 12 months from recruitment, respectively. At these respective sampling times, geometric mean UFB1 concentrations (95% CI) were 313.9 (257.4, 382.9), 167.3 (135.4, 206.7) and 569.5 (464.5, 698.2) pg/mL urine, and the prevalence of stunted children were 44%, 55% and 56%, respectively. UFB1 concentrations at recruitment were negatively associated with length for age Z-scores (LAZ) at six months (p = 0.016) and at 12 months from recruitment (p = 0.014). The mean UFB1 of the three sampling times (at recruitment, at six and 12 months from recruitment) in each child was negatively associated with LAZ (p < 0.001) and length velocity (p = 0.004) at 12 months from recruitment. The negative association between AF-alb and child growth did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to fumonisin alone, or co-exposure with aflatoxins may contribute to child growth impairment.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	173-178
Journal	Environmental Health Perspectives
Volume	123
Issue number	2
Early online date	17 Oct 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408097
Publication status	Published - Feb 2015

Access to Document

10.1289/ehp.1408097

A Prospective Study of Growth and Biomarkers of Exposure to Aflatoxin and Fumonisin during Early Childhood in Tanzania
EHP content is in the public domain. Reproduced from Environmental Health Perspectives at http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1408097/
Final published version, 266 KB

Cite this

@article{84cb83eab6674db1a8f0fc48a7d0db99,

title = "A Prospective Study of Growth and Biomarkers of Exposure to Aflatoxin and Fumonisin during Early Childhood in Tanzania",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Aflatoxin and fumonisin are toxic food contaminants. Knowledge about effects of their exposure and co-exposure on child growth is inadequate.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between child growth and aflatoxin and fumonisin exposure in Tanzania.METHODS: A total of 166 children were recruited at 6 to 14 months of age and studied at recruitment, and at the sixth and twelfth month following recruitment. Blood and urine samples were collected and analysed for plasma aflatoxin albumin adducts (AF-alb) using ELISA, and urinary fumonisin B1 (UFB1) using LC-MS, respectively. Anthropometric measurements were taken and growth index Z-scores were computed.RESULTS: AF-alb geometric mean concentrations (95% confidence intervals) were 4.7 (3.9, 5.6), 12.9 (9.9, 16.7) and 23.5 (19.9, 27.7) pg/mg albumin at recruitment, six months, and 12 months from recruitment, respectively. At these respective sampling times, geometric mean UFB1 concentrations (95% CI) were 313.9 (257.4, 382.9), 167.3 (135.4, 206.7) and 569.5 (464.5, 698.2) pg/mL urine, and the prevalence of stunted children were 44%, 55% and 56%, respectively. UFB1 concentrations at recruitment were negatively associated with length for age Z-scores (LAZ) at six months (p = 0.016) and at 12 months from recruitment (p = 0.014). The mean UFB1 of the three sampling times (at recruitment, at six and 12 months from recruitment) in each child was negatively associated with LAZ (p < 0.001) and length velocity (p = 0.004) at 12 months from recruitment. The negative association between AF-alb and child growth did not reach statistical significance.CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to fumonisin alone, or co-exposure with aflatoxins may contribute to child growth impairment.",

author = "Shirima, {Candida P.} and Kimanya, {Martin E.} and Routledge, {Michael N.} and Chou Srey and Kinabo, {Joyce L.} and Hans-Ulrich Humpf and Wild, {Christopher P.} and Yu-Kang Tu and Gong, {Yun Yun}",

year = "2015",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1289/ehp.1408097",

language = "English",

volume = "123",

pages = "173--178",

journal = "Environmental Health Perspectives",

issn = "0091-6765",

publisher = "Public Health Services, US Dept of Health and Human Services",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Prospective Study of Growth and Biomarkers of Exposure to Aflatoxin and Fumonisin during Early Childhood in Tanzania

AU - Shirima, Candida P.

AU - Kimanya, Martin E.

AU - Routledge, Michael N.

AU - Srey, Chou

AU - Kinabo, Joyce L.

AU - Humpf, Hans-Ulrich

AU - Wild, Christopher P.

AU - Tu, Yu-Kang

AU - Gong, Yun Yun

PY - 2015/2

Y1 - 2015/2

N2 - BACKGROUND: Aflatoxin and fumonisin are toxic food contaminants. Knowledge about effects of their exposure and co-exposure on child growth is inadequate.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between child growth and aflatoxin and fumonisin exposure in Tanzania.METHODS: A total of 166 children were recruited at 6 to 14 months of age and studied at recruitment, and at the sixth and twelfth month following recruitment. Blood and urine samples were collected and analysed for plasma aflatoxin albumin adducts (AF-alb) using ELISA, and urinary fumonisin B1 (UFB1) using LC-MS, respectively. Anthropometric measurements were taken and growth index Z-scores were computed.RESULTS: AF-alb geometric mean concentrations (95% confidence intervals) were 4.7 (3.9, 5.6), 12.9 (9.9, 16.7) and 23.5 (19.9, 27.7) pg/mg albumin at recruitment, six months, and 12 months from recruitment, respectively. At these respective sampling times, geometric mean UFB1 concentrations (95% CI) were 313.9 (257.4, 382.9), 167.3 (135.4, 206.7) and 569.5 (464.5, 698.2) pg/mL urine, and the prevalence of stunted children were 44%, 55% and 56%, respectively. UFB1 concentrations at recruitment were negatively associated with length for age Z-scores (LAZ) at six months (p = 0.016) and at 12 months from recruitment (p = 0.014). The mean UFB1 of the three sampling times (at recruitment, at six and 12 months from recruitment) in each child was negatively associated with LAZ (p < 0.001) and length velocity (p = 0.004) at 12 months from recruitment. The negative association between AF-alb and child growth did not reach statistical significance.CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to fumonisin alone, or co-exposure with aflatoxins may contribute to child growth impairment.

AB - BACKGROUND: Aflatoxin and fumonisin are toxic food contaminants. Knowledge about effects of their exposure and co-exposure on child growth is inadequate.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between child growth and aflatoxin and fumonisin exposure in Tanzania.METHODS: A total of 166 children were recruited at 6 to 14 months of age and studied at recruitment, and at the sixth and twelfth month following recruitment. Blood and urine samples were collected and analysed for plasma aflatoxin albumin adducts (AF-alb) using ELISA, and urinary fumonisin B1 (UFB1) using LC-MS, respectively. Anthropometric measurements were taken and growth index Z-scores were computed.RESULTS: AF-alb geometric mean concentrations (95% confidence intervals) were 4.7 (3.9, 5.6), 12.9 (9.9, 16.7) and 23.5 (19.9, 27.7) pg/mg albumin at recruitment, six months, and 12 months from recruitment, respectively. At these respective sampling times, geometric mean UFB1 concentrations (95% CI) were 313.9 (257.4, 382.9), 167.3 (135.4, 206.7) and 569.5 (464.5, 698.2) pg/mL urine, and the prevalence of stunted children were 44%, 55% and 56%, respectively. UFB1 concentrations at recruitment were negatively associated with length for age Z-scores (LAZ) at six months (p = 0.016) and at 12 months from recruitment (p = 0.014). The mean UFB1 of the three sampling times (at recruitment, at six and 12 months from recruitment) in each child was negatively associated with LAZ (p < 0.001) and length velocity (p = 0.004) at 12 months from recruitment. The negative association between AF-alb and child growth did not reach statistical significance.CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to fumonisin alone, or co-exposure with aflatoxins may contribute to child growth impairment.

U2 - 10.1289/ehp.1408097

DO - 10.1289/ehp.1408097

M3 - Article

C2 - 25325363

SN - 0091-6765

VL - 123

SP - 173

EP - 178

JO - Environmental Health Perspectives

JF - Environmental Health Perspectives

IS - 2

ER -

A Prospective Study of Growth and Biomarkers of Exposure to Aflatoxin and Fumonisin during Early Childhood in Tanzania

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this