Evaluation of the efficacy, acceptability and palatability of calcium montmorillonite clay used to reduce aflatoxin B1 dietary exposure in a crossover study in Kenya

Abstract

Acute aflatoxin exposure can cause death and disease (aflatoxicosis) in humans. Aflatoxicosis fatality rates have been documented to be as high as 40% in Kenya. The inclusion in the diet of calcium silicate 100 (ACCS100), a calcium montmorillonite clay, may reduce aflatoxin bioavailability, thus potentially decreasing the risk of aflatoxicosis. We investigated the efficacy, acceptability and palatability of ACCS100 in a population in Kenya with recurring aflatoxicosis outbreaks. Healthy adult participants were enrolled in this double-blinded, crossover clinical trial in 2014. Following informed consent, participants (n = 50) were randomised to receive either ACCS100 (3 g day−1) or placebo (3 g day−1) for 7 days. Treatments were switched following a 5-day washout period. Urine samples were collected daily and assessed for urinary aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). Blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of the trial and assessed for aflatoxin B1-lysine adducts from serum albumin (AFB1-lys). AFM1 concentrations in urine were significantly reduced while taking ACCS100 compared with calcium carbonate placebo (β = 0.49, 95% confidence limit = 0.32–0.75). The 20-day interval included both the placebo and ACCS100 treatments as well as a washout period. There were no statistically significant differences in reported taste, aftertaste, appearance, colour or texture by treatment. There were no statistically significant differences in self-reported adverse events by treatment. Most participants would be willing to take ACCS100 (98%) and give it to their children (98%). ACCS100 was effective, acceptable and palatable. More work is needed to test ACCS100 among vulnerable populations and to determine if it remains effective at the levels of aflatoxin exposure that induce aflatoxicosis.

Detection of mycobiota, aflatoxigenic and ochratoxigenic genes, and cytotoxic ability in spices

“…The basic feature of PCR is that organisms are not in need to be cultured, at least not for lengthy periods prior to their detection. Moreover, PCR‐based methods that target DNA offer a good way for rapid diagnosis because of their outstanding specificity and sensitivity (Bandyopadhyay et al, ), particularly in developing species‐specific primers using multicopy sequences (Awuor et al, ).…”

“…Moreover, PCR-based methods that target DNA offer a good way for rapid diagnosis because of their outstanding specificity and sensitivity (Bandyopadhyay et al, 2016), particularly in developing species-specific primers using multicopy sequences (Awuor et al, 2016).…”

Modelamiento cuántico para determinar el potencial cancerígeno de la aflatoxina B1 producida por Aspegillus sp y de su derivado metabólico aflatoxina M1

“…La exposición aguda a aflatoxinas puede causar la muerte y la enfermedad (aflatoxicosis) en seres humanos. Se ha documentado que las tasas de fatalidad por aflatoxicosis son tan altas como el 40% en Kenia (Awuor et al, 2017).…”

Biocontrol of toxigenic Aspergillus strains isolated from baby foods by essential oils

“…The main aflatoxinogenic and ochratoxinogenic Aspergillus species were A. flavus , A. parasiticus , A. niger , A. ochraceus and A. carbonarius . These are highly isolated from agricultural crops that are involved in many food industries . Studies on the multifariousness of toxigenic Aspergillus species are beneficial to clarify molecular, ecological and organic chemistry characteristics of the various species in relevance to their different adaptation to environmental and geographical conditions, and to their potential toxigenicity …”