title: Lack of relationship between sorghum consumption, mycotoxin contamination and pellagra in a traditionally sorghum eating population.
abstract: Traditionally, the disease pellagra has been associated with corn consumption and niacin deficiency, and has presently been recognised as a multiple factor nutritional syndrome. In the recent past, it has been suggested that consumption of mycotoxin contaminated sorghum/corn may be involved in the development of pellagra in a sorghum/corn eating population. The present study relates to the assessment of levels of mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1 and T-2 toxin) in sorghum collected from a traditionally sorghum eating population. Despite 25% fungal contamination in the sorghum samples collected, the levels of mycotoxins were minimal (1.4%) and there was no incidence of pellagra in the survey area. The absence of pellagra in the survey areas may be attributed to the changing dietary pattern.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Sashidhar
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ramakrishna
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramnath
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Bhat
mesh_terms: D002523:Edible Grain / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005523:Food Supply; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D010383:Pellagra / Q000209:etiology*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D009183:Mycotoxins