In-utero exposure to aflatoxin in West Africa
Wild, C.P.; Rasheed, F.N.; Jawla, M.F.; Hall, A.J.; Jansen, L.A.; Montesano, R.
Lancet 337(8757): 1602
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0140-6736 PMID: 1675725 DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(91)93295-kDocument Number: 314695
Using a new immunoassay, in-utero exposure to aflatoxins is reported in a West African population. Upon delivery, sera processed from umbilical cord and maternal venous blood, from 30 women in eastern Gambia, were assayed for aflatoxin-albumin adducts. 29 (97%) and 21 (70%) cord sera were positive. There was a highly significant correlation between adduct levels in maternal venous and matched cord sera (r=0.52, P=0.001). However, cord adduct levels were up to 10-fold lower than maternal levels and cord blood was judged free from contamination with maternal blood because of inability to detect malaria-specific IgM. It is concluded that cord blood adducts result from fetal metabolism of aflatoxins and that the lower levels result from lower exposure and/or low efficiency of metabolism.