Individual fumonisin exposure and sphingoid base levels in rural populations consuming maize in South Africa

Low and high oesophageal cancer incidence areas of the former Transkei region of South Africa have been associated with corresponding low and high levels of fumonisin contaminated home-grown maize. This is the first study in South Africa assessing fumonisin B (FB) mycotoxin exposure by quantifying i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Food and chemical toxicology 2010-06, Vol.48 (6), p.1698-1703
Main Authors: van der Westhuizen, L., Shephard, G.S., Rheeder, J.P., Burger, H.-M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biomarker
biomarkers
body weight
Contamination
corn
food records
Foods
Fumonisin
fumonisins
Fumonisins - toxicity
Households
Human
Humans
Maize
Medical sciences
Mycotoxins
Neoplasms - epidemiology
Plant poisons toxicology
Rural Population
South Africa - epidemiology
Sphinganine
Sphingosine
Staples
Toxicology
Transkei
Urine
Zea mays
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Summary:Low and high oesophageal cancer incidence areas of the former Transkei region of South Africa have been associated with corresponding low and high levels of fumonisin contaminated home-grown maize. This is the first study in South Africa assessing fumonisin B (FB) mycotoxin exposure by quantifying individual maize consumption with weighed food records and FB levels from maize in each participant’s household and concurrently evaluating sphinganine (Sa), sphingosine (So) and Sa/So ratios in plasma and urine of these participants as possible biomarkers of FB exposure. The high consumption of maize in Bizana (n=36) and Centane (n=30) of 0.41±0.21 and 0.39±0.19kg/day, respectively, confirms the reliance on maize as the dietary staple. Mean total FB (FB1+FB2+FB3) levels in home-grown maize were 0.495+0.880 and 0.665+0.660mg/kg in Bizana and Centane, respectively. Mean fumonisin exposure based on individual consumption was 3.9±7.3 and 4.1±7.6μg/kg body weight/day, respectively, for Bizana and Centane. The mean combined sphinganine/sphingosine ratios in Bizana and Centane were similar and ranged from 0.10–0.55 in plasma (n=41) and urine (n=62). There was no association between sphingoid base levels and/or Sa/So ratios in the plasma and urine and individual fumonisin exposure, negating the sphingoid bases as potential biomarkers of fumonisin exposure in humans.
ISSN:0278-6915
1873-6351
DOI:10.1016/j.fct.2010.03.047