title: Aflatoxin B1 albumin adducts in plasma and aflatoxin M1 in urine are associated with plasma concentrations of vitamins A and E.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although aflatoxin exposure has been associated with micronutrient deficiency in animals, there are few investigations on the effects of aflatoxin exposure on micronutrient metabolism in humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) albumin adducts (AF-ALB) in plasma and the aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) metabolite in urine and plasma concentrations of retinol (vitamin A) and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) in Ghanaians.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 147 adult participants was conducted. Blood and urine samples were tested for aflatoxin and vitamins A and E levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariable analysis showed that participants with high AF-ALB (>or=0.80 pmol/mg albumin) had increased odds of having vitamin A deficiency compared to those with lower AF-ALB [Odds Ratio (OR)=2.61; CI=1.03-6.58; p=0.04]. Participants with high AF-ALB also showed increased odds of having vitamin E deficiency but this was not statistically significant (OR=2.4; CI=0.96-6.05; p=0.06). Conversely, those with higher AFM1 values had a statistically nonsignificant reduced odds of having vitamin A deficiency (OR=0.31; CI=0.09-1.02; p=0.05) and a statistically significant reduced odds of having vitamin E deficiency (OR=0.31; CI=0.10-0.97; p=0.04). Participants with high AF-ALB or high AFM1 (>or=437.95 pg/dL creatinine) were almost 6 times more likely to be hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive (OR=5.88; CI=1.71-20.14; p=0.005) and (OR=5.84; CI=1.15-29.54; p=0.03) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that aflatoxin may modify plasma micronutrient status. Thus, preventing aflatoxin exposure may reduce vitamin A and E deficiencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, USA.
authors.forename: Francis A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Obuseh
authors.forename: Pauline E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Jolly
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Faisal M B
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Shuaib
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waterbor
authors.forename: William O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Chandrika J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Piyathilake
authors.forename: Renee A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Desmond
authors.forename: Evans
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Afriyie-Gyawu
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D016607:Aflatoxin M1 / Q000652:urine*; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000097:blood*; D000418:Albumins; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D000418:Albumins; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; C098408:aflatoxin-albumin adduct; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D016607:Aflatoxin M1; D016604:Aflatoxin B1