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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Aflatoxin exposure in utero causes growth faltering in Gambian infants
International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 36, No. 5, Year 2007
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Description
Background: Growth faltering in West African children has previously been associated with dietary exposure to aflatoxins, particularly upon weaning. However, in animal studies in utero exposure to low levels of aflatoxin also results in growth faltering. Objective: This study investigated the effect of in utero aflatoxin exposure on infant growth in the first year of life in The Gambia. Methods: Height and weight were measured for 138 infants at birth and at regular monthly intervals for one year. Aflatoxin-albumin (AF-alb) adduct level was measured in maternal blood during pregnancy, in cord blood and in infants at age 16 weeks. Results: The geometric mean AF-alb levels were 40.4 pg/mg (range 4.8-260.8 pg/mg), 10.1 pg/mg (range 5.0-189.6 pg/mg) and 8.7 pg/mg (range 5.0-30.2 pg/mg) in maternal, cord and infant blood, respectively. AF-alb in maternal blood was a strong predictor of both weight (P = 0.012) and height (P = 0.044) gain, with lower gain in those with higher exposure. A reduction of maternal AF-alb from 110 pg/mg to 10 pg/mg would lead to a 0.8 kg increase in weight and 2 cm increase in height within the first year of life. Conclusions: This study shows a strong effect of maternal aflatoxin exposure during pregnancy on growth in the first year of life and thus extends earlier observations of an association between aflatoxin exposure during infancy and growth faltering. The findings imply value in targeting intervention strategies at early life exposures. © The Author 2007; all rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Turner, Paul Craig
Unknown Affiliation
Collinson, Andrew C.
Unknown Affiliation
Cheung, Yin Bun
Unknown Affiliation
Gong, Yun Yun
Unknown Affiliation
Hall, Andrew J.
Unknown Affiliation
Prentice, Andrew M.
Unknown Affiliation
Wild, Christopher Paul
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 326
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/ije/dym122
ISSN:
03005771
e-ISSN:
14643685
Research Areas
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Study Locations
Gambia