Peer-reviewed article
A Cross-Sectional Association Between Serum Aflatoxin and Micronutrient Status Among Children Aged 6-24 Months in Rural Tanzania.
Naelijwa Mshanga, Neema Kassim, Suchaya Sonto, Haikael D Martin, Monica Pirani et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined 369 children aged 6-24 months in rural Tanzania to understand links between aflatoxin exposure and micronutrient deficiencies. Seventy percent of children had detectable aflatoxin levels, and high rates of anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies were found, including zinc (75%), vitamin B12 (73%), and vitamin A (4%) deficiency. Children with high aflatoxin exposure were 1.4 times more likely to be iron deficient. The findings suggest aflatoxin exposure may contribute to micronutrient deficiencies in young children.
Key points
- 70% of children aged 6-24 months had detectable serum aflatoxin albumin adduct levels
- 37% of children were anaemic; deficiency rates were 33% iron, 75% zinc, 4% vitamin A, 4% vitamin B9, and 73% vitamin B12
- Children with high aflatoxin levels (>6.07 pg/mg) were 1.40 times more likely to be iron deficient after adjusting for confounders
- Child age, gender and stunting were significantly associated with anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies
- The study suggests need for interventions to improve dietary diversity and reduce aflatoxin exposure
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional study, so it cannot establish causation between aflatoxin exposure and micronutrient deficiencies—only association. The authors acknowledge that longitudinal research is needed to understand causal relationships.
Abstract
Micronutrient deficiencies are a significant public health problem, particularly affecting children under five, caused by inadequate intake of micronutrient-rich foods or environmental factors like aflatoxin exposure. Three hundred sixty-nine children aged 6-24 months from Tanzania's Babati and Hanang districts participated in this study. Serum aflatoxin albumin adduct (AF-alb) levels were assessed as measures of aflatoxin exposure. Haemoglobin levels, serum ferritin, C-reactive protein, zinc and vitamins A, B9, and B12 were assessed to determine anaemia and deficiencies in iron, zinc and vitamins A, B9 and B12 based on WHO cut-off points. Seventy per cent of the children had detectable levels of AF-alb. The AF-alb geometric mean was 5.99 (95% CI: 5.99, 6.87) pg/mg. Of those with measured micronutrient markers, 37% were anaemic, and 33%, 75%, 4%, 4% and 73% were deficient in iron, zinc, vitamins A, B9 and B12, respectively. The child's age, gender and stunting were all significantly associated (p < 0.05) with anaemia and deficiencies in zinc, vitamin A and B12. Moreover, AF-alb was associated with iron deficiency even after adjusting for confounders; children with high AF-alb levels ( > 6.07 pg/mg) were 1.40 times more likely to be iron deficient (AOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.74). The high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies and its association with aflatoxin exposure among young children highlights the urgent need for comprehensive intervention strategies, such as improving dietary diversity and enhancing food safety to reduce aflatoxin exposure. Importantly, longitudinal research is needed to understand the causal effect relationship between aflatoxin exposure and micronutrient deficiencies.