A Survey on Relationship between Diet and Urinary Excretion of Aflatoxin M1: A Screening Pilot Study on Iranian Population

Aflatoxins are found in the most types of foods such as corn, peanuts, pistachio, rice, milk, and etc. These toxins may cause several adverse health effects, notably cancer. The main aim of this study was to evaluate excretion level of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), as a biomarker of aflatoxin B1 exposure, in urine samples of Iranian population. Also, relationship between diet and urinary excretion of AFM1 has been discussed. From June to August 2014, this study was carried out among 70 staffs from Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. From each participant, 72-h dietary recall was asked and recorded. Then, urine samples were collected separately in the sterile plastic falcon and transferred immediately to the laboratory and stored at -20 °C. AFM1 was assessed in each sample using ELISA procedure. The data were analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis of variance test using SPSS software (16.0). AFM1 was detected in 15 of 70 (21%) urine samples. The mean levels of contamination in faculty members and non-faculty members were 0.6 and 1.7 pg/ml, respectively. There was a significant difference between the excretion of AFM1 and consumption of nuts as well as Iranian traditional confection (p<0.05). No relationship was found between the demographic factors and excretion of AFM1 (p>0.05). Considering adverse health effect, aflatoxin exposure in this Iranian population should be reduced. So, comprehensive training of the people is one of the most practical and useful methods for reducing aflatoxin health risks.