Aflatoxins and Child Health in the Tropics

Abstract

The geographical distribution, seasonal incidence, biochemical and biological derangements observed in Kwashiorkor, a serious and prevalent disease in childhood of obscure aetiology, are remarkably similar to those recorded in epidemiological and animal studies on aflatoxins.

Possible relationships between kwashiorkor and aflatoxins have been explored over the past 8 years in 8 countries. Aflatoxins have been detected more frequently and at higher concentrations in the sera of kwashiorkor than other children; aflatoxicol is frequently detected in sera of kwashiorkor but never in controls; autopsy liver samples from kwashiorkor contained aflatoxin B₁ or aflatoxicol; and children with kwashiorkor, on an aflatoxin free diet, excrete large amounts of aflatoxin in their stools for up to 10 days. These findings have established definite relationships between kwashiorkor and aflatoxins.

The apparent reduced susceptibility of kwashiorkor to P.falciparum malaria, led to the study of the influence of aflatoxins on P.berghei infection in mice which has established that aflatoxin B₁ reduces parasitaemia and retards the lethal effects of malaria in mice. Studies on the influence of aflatoxins on cell mediated immunity in mice suggest that in vivo exposure conditions lymphocytes to show an exaggerated response to mitogens.