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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Aflatoxin exposure and its relationship to kwashiorkor in African children
Authors:Househam, K.C.
Hundt, H.K.L.
Year:1991
Periodical:Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
Volume:37
Issue:6
Pages:300-302
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:child health
kwashiorkor
External link:http://tropej.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/37/6/300
Abstract:It has been postulated that the toxic effects of aflatoxins, directed primarily toward the liver, could account for many of the clinical features of kwashiorkor, one of the more common forms of severe protein energy malnutrition occurring in South Africa. Although the climatic conditions in the Bloemfontein area do not favour the proliferation of the 'Aspergillus flavus' group of fungi, which produce aflatoxins, kwashiorkor is, nevertheless, the commonest form of severe protein energy malnutration in the area. For this reason it was decided to determine the degree of aflatoxins exposure amongst children aged between 1 and 5 years from a black periurban community, and those admitted to hospital with kwashiorkor and marasmus in the Bloemfontein area. The urinary excretion of aflatoxins in normal children from the periurban area, as well as those hospitalized with kwashiorkor and marasmus was assessed. In no case was aflatoxin isolated from the urine. It is concluded that aflatoxin exposure is unusual in this population and that aflatoxins do not play a primary role in the pathogenesis of kwashiorkor. Ref.
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