Aflatoxin M1 in breast milk of nursing Sudanese mothers

• Published in: Mycotoxin research Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 131 - 134
• Main Authors: Elzupir, Amin O, Abas, Abdel rouf A, Fadul, M. Hemmat, Modwi, Abueliz K, Ali, Nima M. I, Jadian, Afaf F. F, Ahmed, Nuha Abd A, Adam, Smah Y. A, Ahmed, Nousiba A. M, Khairy, Arwa A. A, Khalil, Eltahir A. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-05-2012
• Subjects: aflatoxin M1; Aflatoxin M1 - analysis; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Breast Feeding; breast milk; Chemistry/Food Science; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - methods; Diet; Female; fluorescence; Food Contamination - analysis; high performance liquid chromatography; Humans; infants; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Medicine/Public Health; Microbiology; Milk, Human - chemistry; mothers; Original Paper; peanut butter; questionnaires; rice; Sudan; Surveys and Questionnaires; toxicity; vegetable oil; volunteers; Sudan; Nursing mother’s milk; Aflatoxin M; HPLC; Sudan
• ISSN: 0178-7888; 1867-1632
• DOI: 10.1007/s12550-012-0127-x

The presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in the breast milk of nursing Sudanese mothers was investigated using AOAC official method 980.21 as the extraction method and HPLC with fluorescence detector for separation and detection. Following informed consent, 94 breast milk samples of mothers were collected, and 51 samples were found to be positive for AFM1, with an average concentration of 0.401 ± 0.525 ng g−1 and a maximum level of 2.561 ng g−1. The volunteers completed a questionnaire concerning their dietary preferences. The data collected suggest that peanut butter, vegetable oils and rice are the main sources responsible for the AFM1 burden in breast milk. The toxin levels are alarmingly high, and indicate that Sudanese infants are exposed to high levels of AFM1. A wide range of harmful effects, and consequently health problems, can be expected due AFM1 toxicity.