Elucidating Adverse Nutritional Implications of Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Mycotoxins through Stable Isotope Techniques

Abstract

Multiple drivers of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) include a rapid shift from predominantly plant-based diets to energy-dense foods based on meats, milk, animal fats and vegetable oils. The shift to overweight and obesity is driven by increased exposure to mass media, urbanization, technological advances in food processing, rising income and increased population density associated with increased access to cheap foods. At the same time, undernutrition persists mainly due to food insecurity and lack of access to safe water, sanitation and adequate health care. All known nutrition interventions result in only one third reduction in stunting. Little consideration has been given to hazardous exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and microbial toxins as major components of the malnutrition-causal framework. These hazards include microbial toxins, for example, mycotoxins, and environmental pollutants such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), some of which are known to disrupt the endocrine system. These hazards sit at the cross road of undernutrition and overweight and obesity since the exposure cuts across the critical window of opportunity (the first 1000 days). In this review, we update on the role of food and environmental contaminants, especially EDCs and aflatoxins, in child growth and on the implications for metabolic dysfunction and disease risk in later life, and discuss potential applications of nuclear and isotopic techniques to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms, outcome indicators, as well as occurrence levels.

From one species to another: A review on the interaction between chemistry and microbiology in relation to cleaning in the built environment

“…14,78,83 Recently, detergents have been implicated in altering the human gut microbial community, both directly and indirectly through the alteration of host physiology. 84,85…”

Challenges and opportunities to tackle the rising prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases in Africa

“…Environmental contaminants and microbial toxins have a potential not only to drive undernutrition, but also the risk of obesity and related NCD. Endocrine disrupting compounds such polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides and mycotoxins may impact child growth and health via modified action of growth hormone, adiposity, DNA methylation and protein synthesis (17) . Endocrine disruptors negatively impact on hormonal processes associated with growth from in utero and have potential to programme the fetus for later disease (60)(61)(62)(63) .…”

“…Holistic school-based interventions that involve parents and the community may be most effective (95)(96)(97) and may simultaneously address food insecurity in a double duty format; (4) Implement policies to regulate food and environmental contaminants; (5) Collection of accurate data based on indicators that can reflect the double burdens of disease and malnutrition. Body composition is influenced by multiple adverse exposures; body fat accumulation and distribution are key predictors of the risk of obesity and related NCD (17,81) . Including accurate body fat and lean mass measurement in NCD surveillance may add value on interpretation of risk and design of interventions.…”

“…Diet quality may affect NCD independent of body weight or obesity (8) . Factors including exposure to environmental pollutants and microbial toxins may play a role, but the mechanisms linking these to NCD are yet to be fully understood to enable targeted action (14)(15)(16)(17)(18) . Countries are responding at varying paces to the NCD menace by putting in place policy frameworks that address some of its key driving factors including, school-based nutrition education, taxation on cigarettes, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages, laws to enable mandatory reformulation of food products, and regulations on marketing and advertising of food products to children (8,9,19,20) .…”

Measuring growth and medium‐ and longer‐term outcomes in malnourished children

“…A good example is the environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) phenomenon that is believed to affect linear growth in yet to be defined ways (Keusch et al, ; Owino et al, ). Environmental hazards with endocrine disrupting properties and microbial toxins such as mycotoxins, are also thought to be involved in foetal programming and postnatal growth disruption (Gong, Watson, & Routledge, ; Owino, Cornelius, & Loechl, ; Zheng et al, ). The effects of stressors on growth are determined by their timing, character, and the duration of the adverse experiences.…”