A Cross-Sectional Association Between Serum Aflatoxin and Micronutrient Status Among Children Aged 6-24 Months in Rural Tanzania.

ABSTRACT: Micronutrient deficiencies are a significant public health problem, particularly affecting children under five, caused by inadequate intake of micronutrient-rich foods or environmental factors like aflatoxin exposure. Three hundred sixty-nine children aged 6-24 months from Tanzania's Babati and Hanang districts participated in this study. Serum aflatoxin albumin adduct (AF-alb) levels were assessed as measures of aflatoxin exposure. Haemoglobin levels, serum ferritin, C-reactive protein, zinc and vitamins A, B9, and B12 were assessed to determine anaemia and deficiencies in iron, zinc and vitamins A, B9 and B12 based on WHO cut-off points. Seventy per cent of the children had detectable levels of AF-alb. The AF-alb geometric mean was 5.99 (95% CI: 5.99, 6.87) pg/mg. Of those with measured

SUBMITTER: Mshanga N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12454167 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature