Early Childhood Dietary Exposure of Aflatoxins and Fumonisins in Tanzania: Role in Child Stunting and Possible Interventions (2003–2024)
ABSTRACT One of the major sources of public health concern in many developing countries is child stunting, which accounts for more than a third of all deaths of children below the age of 5 years worldwide. Although child stunting generally seems to be on a downward trend in the country, the present prevalence is still very high based on international standards. Several studies have established that the extent of early childhood dietary exposure to aflatoxins (AFs) and fumonisins (FBs) in the country occurs through complementary feeding. However, there is a paucity of information on whether this is linked to child stunting. This review discusses child stunting and nutrition and strives to draw a link between early childhood dietary exposure to AFs and FBs and child stunting in Tanzania. The review further outlines the mechanisms of mycotoxin‐induced growth impairment and deliberates on the past, present, and future interventions that can be useful in alleviating the problem of stunting that is linked to these mycotoxins. Such information can be crucial for developing and adopting appropriate interventions that can contribute to the further reduction of child stunting in Tanzania.
Clara Mollay