Aflatoxin B1 level in relation to child's feeding and growth.

Objective: To study the influence of sociological factors, breast feeding and weaning on aflatoxin exposure in children as well as to determine the effect of aflatoxin exposure on child's growth.

Methods: A questionnaire, administered to the mothers of forty-six children, obtained information on the child's age, sex, residence, feeding, weaning and general health status. Maternal parity, education and occupation were also collected. Height for age Z-score (HAZ) and weight for age Z-score (WAZ) of children were calculated at the time of recruitment. TLC analysis was performed for aflatoxin B1 level in studied children and their mothers.

Results: Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 17 out of 46 (36.96%) of children's serum at a median concentration of 51.61 (30.565-62.795) ppm and in 17 out of 46 (36.96%) of mother's serum at a median concentration of 50 (35.59-84.93) ppm. Aflatoxin B1 level was neither affected by child's age, sex, residence whether rural or urban, maternal age, parity, education nor occupation. Aflatoxin B1 in breastfed patients was significantly lower than in non-breastfed ones (p = 0.034). Weight for age Z-score (WAZ) showed no significant difference between aflatoxin B1 negative and positive cases (p = 0.422) while height for age Z-score (HAZ) was significantly lower in aflatoxin B1 positive compared to negative cases (p = 0.001). A significant positive correlation between aflatoxin B1 in the present cases and their mothers (r = 0.881, p = 0.0001) and a significant negative correlation between aflatoxin B1 in present cases and their height-z-score (HAZ) (r = -0.460, p = 0.001) was detected.

Conclusions: Breast feeding results in lower aflatoxin exposure. Also, a strong association between aflatoxin exposure and impaired child's growth exists.