Aflatoxin-albumin adducts and correlation with decreased serum levels of vitamins A and E in an adult Ghanaian population.
A study of aflatoxin (AF) exposure and the levels of vitamins A and E was carried out with a group of 507 Ghanaian participants. AFB(1)-albumin adducts (AFB-AA) were measured by radioimmunoassay and vitamins A and E were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The average level of serum AFB-AA was 0.94 +/- 0.64 (range = 0.1-4.44) pmol mg(-1) albumin. Mean levels of vitamins A and E were 1.32 +/- 0.48 (range = 0.41-4.85) micromol l(-1) and 15.68 +/- 4.12 (range = 6.35-30.40) micromol l(-1), respectively. A significantly negative correlation was found between serum AFB-AA and vitamin A levels (r = -0.110, p = 0.013). An even stronger, significant negative, correlation was found between serum AFB-AA and vitamin E levels (r = -0.149, p < 0.001). Serum AFB-AA levels were statistically higher (median = 0.985 pmol mg(-1) albumin) in subjects who had low levels of both vitamins A and E as compared with the levels (median = 0.741 pmol mg(-1) albumin) subjects who had high vitamins A and E levels (p(trend) = 0.001). To verify these findings, blood samples were again collected from 165 of the 507 people 3 months after the initial collection. Significantly negative correlations were confirmed between levels of serum AFB-AA and both vitamins A (r = -0.232, p = 0.003) and E (r = -0.178, p = 0.023). Again, high serum AFB-AA concentrations (median = 1.578 pmol mg(-1) albumin) were found in subjects with low levels of vitamins A and E compared with the concentrations (median = 1.381 pmol mg(-1) albumin) in subjects with high levels of vitamins A and E (p(trend) = 0.002). These data show that AF exposure was associated with decreased levels of serum vitamins A and E in high-risk human populations, which may significantly influence the incidence of AF-related adverse health effects.
Tang
L
L
Department of Environmental Toxicology and The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
Xu
L
L
Afriyie-Gyawu
E
E
Liu
W
W
Wang
P
P
Tang
Y
Y
Wang
Z
Z
Huebner
H J
HJ
Ankrah
N-A
NA
Ofori-Adjei
D
D
Williams
J H
JH
Wang
J-S
JS
Phillips
T D
TD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000097:blood; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000418:Albumins; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003906:Developing Countries; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011042:Poisons / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D000348:Aflatoxins; D000418:Albumins; D011042:Poisons; C098408:aflatoxin-albumin adduct; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D016604:Aflatoxin B1