Association between Urinary Aflatoxin (AFM₁) and Dietary Intake among Adults in Hulu Langat District, Selangor, Malaysia.

Mohd Sabran,Rosita Jamaluddin,Siti Sulaiman

doi:10.3390/nu10040460

Abstract

Aflatoxin is a food contaminant and its exposure through the diet is frequent and ubiquitous. A long-term dietary aflatoxin exposure has been linked to the development of liver cancer in populations with high prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in foods. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the association between urinary aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a biomarker of aflatoxin exposure, with the dietary intake among adults in Hulu Langat district, Selangor, Malaysia. Certain food products have higher potential for aflatoxin contamination and these were listed in a Food Frequency Questionnaire, which was given to all study participants. This allowed us to record consumption rates for each food product listed. Concomitantly, urine samples were collected, from adults in selected areas in Hulu Langat district, for the measurement of AFM1 levels using an ELISA kit. Of the 444 urine samples collected and tested, 199 were positive for AFM1, with 37 of them exceeding the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.64 ng/mL. Cereal products showed the highest consumption level among all food groups, with an average intake of 512.54 g per day. Chi-square analysis showed that consumption of eggs (X2 = 4.77, p = 0.03) and dairy products (X2 = 19.36, p < 0.01) had significant associations with urinary AFM1 but both food groups were having a phi and Cramer’s V value that less than 0.3, which indicated that the association between these food groups’ consumption and AFM1 level in urine was weak.

Highlights

Foodborne disease is a global concern, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [1]estimates that each year there are 48 million people who are affected, 128,000 of whom are hospitalized and 3000 die
A study in Terengganu, Malaysia [22], found that 19 out of 53 dairy products samples were positive with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), ranging from 3.5 to 100.5 ng/L, and this contamination levels were still safe according to Malaysian
There was a study [20] that found that a maize and two rice samples from the Malaysian markets had aflatoxin levels exceeding the European regulatory limits for aflatoxin, i.e., 4 ng/g

Summary

Introduction

Foodborne disease is a global concern, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [1]estimates that each year there are 48 million people who are affected, 128,000 of whom are hospitalized and 3000 die. Foodborne diseases are commonly caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, harmful toxins and chemicals. Mycotoxins, one of the etiologic agents of foodborne diseases, are produced by fungi which can cause mycotoxicosis [2]. There are many mycotoxins that have the potential to contaminate food products and agricultural commodities. Aflatoxin is produced by Aspergillus species of fungi such as Aspergilllus flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius [3]. These fungi are found in the warm and humid climates prevailing in the tropical and sub-tropical geographic latitudes [4]. Improper food storage and production procedures promote the growth of these fungi, and subsequently aflatoxin contamination, in many agricultural commodities

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion