期刊
FOOD AND NUTRITION BULLETIN
卷 28, 期 2, 页码 S372-S380出版社
SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
DOI: 10.1177/15648265070282S217
关键词
aflatoxins; Africa; child health; growth faltering; immune suppression; biomarkers
资金
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES [P01ES006052] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
Background. Aflatoxins are common contaminants of staple foods in sub-Saharan Africa. These toxins are human liver carcinogens, especially in combination with chronic infection with hepatitis B virus. However, in an agricultural setting, the effects on growth, immune status, and susceptibility to infectious disease in farm animals are also well recognized. These latter effects have been far less explored in human populations. Objectives. To review some of the more recent work on aflatoxins where the health outcomes seen in the agricultural setting, including growth impairment and immune suppression, have been investigated in human populations. The paper draws largely on examples from West Africa. The paper also sets out how knowledge gained about aflatoxins in the agricultural setting can be used to design intervention studies in human populations. Methods. A review of the relevant literature. Results. Human exposure to aflatoxins begins early in life, and recent studies in West Africa have demonstrated an association between exposure and growth faltering, particularly stunting, in young children. At present the underlying mechanisms for the latter effects are unknown but may include impairment of immunity and increased susceptibility to infections. Simple postharvest intervention strategies were successful in reducing aflatoxin exposure in a subsistence farm setting, providing a rationale for prevention of aflatoxin-related disease. Conclusions. There are potential benefits to public health from intervention strategies combining expertise in the agricultural and health settings to address the aflatoxin problem.
作者
我是这篇论文的作者
点击您的名字以认领此论文并将其添加到您的个人资料中。
推荐
暂无数据