Assessment of human exposure to aflatoxins in foods by evaluating some biomarkers in residents of rural areas in Pirassununga/SP

• Grant number: 10/08746-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2010
• End date: July 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Augusto Fernandes de Oliveira
• Grantee: Alessandra Vincenzi Jager
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 10/20895-4 - Evaluation of AFB1-Lisin and AFB1-N7-guanin aducts as biomarkers of human and animal exposure to aflatoxins, AP.TEM

Abstract

Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by the secondary metabolism of several species of filamentous fungi, which can contaminate foods before and after processing, leading to serious problems to the food quality and Public Health. The exposure to mycotoxins occurs predominantly through the ingestion of contaminated food, mainly cereals and by-products, like corn, peanuts and others. Aflatoxins are one of the main groups of mycotoxins of worldwide occurrence which have been frequently reported in Brazil. There is a need for studies in Brazil to evaluate the applicability of biomarkers for human exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Therefore, the project aims to evaluate the exposure of humans to AFB1 through food consumption, by measuring the aflatoxin concentration in the diet and also through the determination of biomarkers in urine and serum samples. To this end, sampling will be arranged in a group of 24 individuals selected from 8 families living at a University of Sao Paulo Campus. AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 e AFG2 will be analyzed in peanuts, corn and by-products consumed by these individuals as well as AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 e AFG2 and metabolites AFM1, AFP1, AFQ1, AFB1-N7-guanine determined in urine samples and adduct AFB1-lisin in serum. Data will be statistically evaluated to assess the correlation between consumption of contaminated food by individuals and aflatoxin residues and metabolites concentrations in urine. Based on data obtained it is expected to quantify the exposure of the individuals evaluated to AFB1 through the diet.