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South Texas currently has the highest incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States, a disease that disproportionately affects Latino populations in the region. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent liver carcinogen that has been shown to be present in a variety of foods in the U.S., including corn and corn products. Importantly, it is a dietary risk factor contributing to a higher incidence of HCC in populations frequently consuming AFB1-contaminated diets. In a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial, we evaluated the effects of a three-month administration of ACCS100 (refined calcium montmorillonite clay) on serum AFB1-lysine adduct level and serum biochemistry in 234 healthy men and women residing in Bexar and Medina Counties, Texas. Participants recruited from 2012–2014 received either a Placebo, 1.5 g, or 3 g ACCS100 each day for three months, and no treatment during the 4th month. Adverse event rates were similar across treatment groups and no significant differences were observed for serum biochemistry and hematology parameters. Differences in levels of AFB1-lysine adduct at 1, 3, and 4 months were compared between Placebo and active treatment groups. Although serum AFB1-lysine adduct levels were decreased by month 3 for both treatment groups, the Low dose was the only treatment that was significant (p=0.0005). In conclusion, the observed effect in the Low dose treatment group suggests that the use of ACCS100 may be a viable strategy to reduce dietary AFB1 bioavailability during aflatoxin outbreaks and potentially in populations chronically exposed to this carcinogen.

The big reluctance to give prophylactic folic acid during pregnancy is probably, to some extent, due to the possible risk of masking a developing vitamin B12 deficiency and to the fact that pernicious anemia of pregnancy is a very unusual complication (Lowenstein, Pick and Philpott, 1955).Nevertheless, the recent years investigations on folic acid metabolism during pregnancy have shown that a clinical latent folic acid deficiency is common at the end of pregnancy. Thus, Chanarin, MacGibbon, OSulIivan and Mollin (1959) found that 213 of women in the childbearing age group. A high frequency of injected folic acid in late pregnancy. Among others, Hansen and v . KZewesahl (1963) found that at the end of pregnancy almost half of healthy non anaemic pregnant women had serum folic acid values which were below the normal limits for non pregnant women in the childbearing age group. A high frequency of pathological FIGLU tests have also been described (Luhby 1963), and furthermore it has been shown that giant and hypersegmented granulocytes are a very common occurrence in peripheral blood at the end of pregnancy (Hansen 1964, Chanarin, Rothman and Berry 1965, Giles 1966). The relationship between obstetrical complications and a defective folic acid metabolism has also been shown by Hibbard (1964). These new experiences have more or less resulted in a changed attitude to prophylactic folic acid administration and this is also today recommended by many authors.

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