title: The effects of season and gender on the serum aflatoxins and ochratoxin A levels of healthy adult subjects from the Central Anatolia Region, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to determine the effects of season and gender on serum aflatoxin (AF) levels (AFG1, AFB1, AFG2 and AFB2) and ochratoxin A (OTA) concentrations of healthy adult population living in Central Anatolia Region of Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  AF levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and OTA levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples of healthy adults (n = 233).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In summer and winter, total AF levels in females were 0.98 ± 0.10 and 0.94 ± 0.12 ng/ml and in males 1.35 ± 0.17 and 0.93 ± 0.11 ng/ml, respectively. Male subjects had significantly higher serum total AF levels in summer compared with females (~38%). There was no marked seasonal change in AFG1, AFB1 and AFG2 concentrations in the whole population, except AFB2. Both of the genders had significantly higher OTA levels in winter compared with summer (~60%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall results suggest that Central Anatolia residents are continuously exposed to AFs and OTA. Besides, season and gender can be effective in mycotoxin exposure.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Suna
authors: S
authors: Sabuncuoglu
authors: Pinar
authors: P
authors: Erkekoglu
authors: Sevtap
authors: S
authors: Aydin
authors: Gönül
authors: G
authors: Şahin
authors: Belma
authors: B
authors: Kocer-Gumusel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000097:blood*; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A