Chronic exposure to mycotoxins is not associated with vitamin A status in children of 36 – 59 months old living in a malaria-endemic rural area in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Background: Exposures to environmental contaminants in the food supply, especially mycotoxins may be linked to micronutrient deficiencies through their potential role in inducing inflammation and altering absorption. Children in Burkina Faso are chronically exposed to mycotoxins in the food chain. We aim at investigating the relationship between serum concentrations in Aflatoxins AFB1 and AFB2 and vitamin A (VA) status in Burkinabe children aged 36-59 mo. Methods: Two cohort surveys were conducted in western Burkina Faso on a total sample of 115 children aged 36-59 mo during the dry and the rainy seasons. Blood samples were collected to assess VA status (serum retinol concentrations using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography; total liver reserve [TLR] and total body stores [TBS] using the 13C-retinol isotope dilution method), inflammation indicators (alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, AGP and C-reactive protein, CRP) and AFB1 and AFB2 by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association of VA status with potential predictors such as aflatoxins, and demographic, anthropometric, dietary variables in STATA. Results: Mean serum retinol was 0.83±0.25 µmol/l. Median TLR and TBS was 0.75 mol/g liver (IQ25-IQ75: 0.52 - 1.08) and 430 mol (289.9 - 620.6), respectively. 28% had TLR >1.0 mol/g liver and none had VA deficiency. TLR was significantly associated with baseline weight-for-height z-score and serum β-carotene (p<0.05), while TBS was significantly associated with AGP. Neither AFB1 nor AFB2 was associated with VA status. Conclusion: No association was found between exposure to mycotoxins and VA status in children with no VA deficiency.