Cross-sectional Survey of Urinary Aflatoxins and Diet Recall in Haiti

Abstract

Aflatoxins (AFs) are hepatocarcinogenic mycotoxins that can contaminate grains and oil seeds in tropical and sub-tropical areas and have been detected in maize and peanut products of Haiti. The first objective of our study was to assess human exposure to Afs among Haitians at an urban hospital (GHESKIO) and a rural health centre (HCBH). The second objective was to test the association between AF exposure and reported dietary intake of potentially contaminated foods, such as maize, peanut products and milk. Subjects were recruited at the Groupe Haitien d’Etude du Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infections Opportunistes Health Centre in Port-au-Prince (GHESKIO, n = 147) from 9–24 July 2012, and at the Hôpital Convention Baptiste d’Haïti in Quartier Morin (HCBH, n = 191) from 9 September 2013 to 7 February 2014. At HCBH, study subjects also included minors (1–17.9 years of age, n = 28). Intake of dairy, other animal-sourced foods, peanut products and maize was assessed using a dietary recall survey. Aflatoxin exposure was assessed by measurement of urinary Aflatoxin M1 using high pressure liquid chromatography