STUDY OF
AFLATOXINS IN BLOOD AND URINE IN INFANTS WITH PROTEIN-ENERGY MALNUTRITION
Hatem NL1, Hassab H1, Abd Al-Rahman EM2, EL-Deeb SA3,
EL-Sayed Ahmed RL1
1 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria
University
2 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria
University
3 Department of Dairy Science and Technology, Faculty of
Agriculture, Alexandria University, Egypt
Objective: The aim of the present work is to study
the presence of aflatoxins in blood and urine of infants with protein
energy-malnutrition (PEM).
Methods: This study was conducted on 30 kwashiorkor and
30 marasmic infants. Ten age matched healthy infants were studied as
control group. Complete blood picture, liver function tests and
determination of aflatoxins (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, M1, M2, G2a, B3,
GM1,P and Aflatoxicol R0) in blood and urine were done to all studied
infants.
Results: Aflatoxins were detected in the sera of 24(80%)
kwashiorkor Patients and in only 14(46.7%) of marasmic infants. The mean
serum concentration of total aflatoxins was higher kwashiorkor than in
marasmic infants (P<0.001). Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was the most commonly
detected type in both groups. The mean serum concentration of AFB1, AFG1,
and AFB2a were significantly higher in kwashiorkor than in marasmus
patients. Aflatoxins were excreted in significant higher prevalence in
urine of 24(80%) kwashiorkor infants and in only 14(46.7%) of marasmus
infants. The mean urinary concentration of total aflatoxins was
significantly higher in kwashiorkor than in marasmic infants (P<0.052).
The mean value of urine concentration AFB1, AFG1, AFB2a, AFM1 and AFG2a
showed no significant difference between kwashiorkor and marasmus patients.
Aflatoxins were not detected in any of the serum or urine samples of the
control group.
Conclusion: Aflatoxins may be incriminated in the
pathogenesis of severe protein energy-malnutrition.