Skip to main content
Log in

Aflatoxin M1 in breast milk of nursing Sudanese mothers

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Mycotoxin Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aidoo KE (1993) Post-harvest storage and preservation of tropical crops. Int Biodeter Biodegr 32:161–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AOAC (2000) Official Method 980.21, Aflatoxin M1 in milk and cheese. AOAC Methods of Analysis, 17th edn. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Gaithersburg, MD

  • Battacone G, Nudda A, Palomba M, Pascale M, Nicolussi P, Pulina G (2005) Transfer of aflatoxin B1 from feed to milk and from milk to curd and whey in dairy sheep fed artificially contaminated concentrates. J Dairy Sci 88:3063–3069

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caloni F, Stammati A, Friggé G, De Angelis I (2006) Aflatoxin M1 absorption and cytotoxicity on human intestinal in vitro model. Toxicon 47:409–415

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland TE, Dowd PF, Desjardins AE, Bhatnagar D, Cotty PJ (2003) United States Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service research on pre-harvest prevention of mycotoxins and mycotoxigenic fungi in US crops. Best Manag Sci 59:629–642

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coulter JB, Lamplugh SM, Suliman GI, Omer MI, Hendrickse RG (1984) Aflatoxins in human breast milk. Ann Trop Paediatr 4:61–66

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coulter JB, Hendrickse RG, Lamplugh SM, Macfarlane SB, Moody JB, Omer MI, Suliman GI, Williams TE (1986) Aflatoxins and kwashiorkor: clinical studies in Sudanese children. Trans Soc Trop Med Hyg 80:945–951

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elshafie SZB, ElMubarak A, El-Nagerabi SAF, Elshafie AE (2011) Aflatoxin B1 contamination of traditionally processed peanuts butter for human consumption in Sudan. Mycopathologia 171:435–439

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elzupir AO, Elhussein AM (2009) Determination of aflatoxin M1 in dairy cattle milk in Khartoum State, Sudan. Food Control 21:945–946

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elzupir AO, Younis YMH, Fadul MH, Elhussein AM (2009) Determination of aflatoxins in animal feed in Khartoum State, Sudan. J Anim Vet Adv 8:1000–1003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elzupir AO, Suliman MA, Ibrahim AI, Fadul MH, Elhussein AM (2010) Aflatoxins levels in vegetable oils in Khartoum State, Sudan. Mycotoxin Res 26:69–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elzupir AO, Salih AOA, Suliman AS, Adam AA, Elhussein AM (2011) Aflatoxins contamination in peanut butter in Khartoum State of Sudan. Mycotoxin Res 27:183–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • European Union (2010) Commission regulation No 165/2010 of 26 February 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs as regards aflatoxins. Off J Eur Comm L50:8–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Heshmati A, Milani JM (2010) Contamination of UHT milk by aflatoxin M1 in Iran. Food Control 21:19–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans (2002) Some traditional herbal medicines, some mycotoxins, naphthalene and styrene. Lyon, France

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuilman MEM, Maas RFM, Fink-Gremmels J (2000) Cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism and cytotoxicity of aflatoxin B1 in bovine hepatocytes. Toxicol In Vitro 14:321–327

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Movassagh MH, Khodabandehloo E, Movassagh A (2011) Detection of aflatoxin M1 in cow's raw milk in Miandoab city, west Aazerbaijan Province, Iran. Glob Vet 6:313–315

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Polychronaki N, West RM, Turner PC, Amra H, Abdel-Wahhab M, Mykkanen H, El-Nezami H (2007) A longitudinal assessment of aflatoxin M1 excretion in breast milk of selected Egyptian mothers. Food Chem Toxicol 45:1210–1215

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Polychronaki N, Wild CP, Mykkanen H, Amra H, Abdel-Wahhab M, Sylla A, Diallo M, El-Nezami H, Turner PC (2008) Urinary biomarkers of aflatoxin exposure in young children from Egypt and Guinea. Food Chem Toxicol 46:519–526

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prandini A, Tansini G, Sigolo S, Filippi L, Laporta M, Piva G (2009) On the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products; A review. Food Chem Toxicol 47:984–991

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) (2006) Grain inspection, packers & stockyards administration. Grain Fungal Diseases & Mycotoxin Reference. USA

Download references

Acknowledgments

Our appreciation to the administration of the pediatrics departments of Omdurman and Bahary Teaching Hospitals and to the volunteers for their time and kind collaboration.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amin O. Elzupir.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Elzupir, A.O., Abas, A.r.A., Fadul, M.H. et al. Aflatoxin M1 in breast milk of nursing Sudanese mothers. Mycotoxin Res 28, 131–134 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-012-0127-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-012-0127-x

Keywords

Navigation