Aflatoxin status in severe protein energy malnutrition as seen at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Blood levels of aflatoxin were determined in 173 children. The resuLt s in 110 malnourished children comprisinb 37 ~wa$biorko~,26 marasmic kwashiorkorand 47 with marasmus are compared with 63 ag,ematched controls and correlated with clinical findings.

Out of 173 sera collected, 167 were negative for af1atoxins and 6 were positive with aflatoxin levels ranging between 31.5 ppb and 125 ppb. Only aflatoxin B1 was detected. Of the six positives, 3 patients had

kwa shIorkor ,1 patient

• marasmic

kwa shLor-ko',r1 patient

marasmus and 1 control.

Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the detection rate between kwashiorkor patients and other nutritional groups at 5% level (P)0.05). There was no evidence of an association between af1Citoxinsin the serum and age or sex

(P)0.05).