Aflatoxin: A Synthesis of the Research in Health, Agriculture and Trade

country
Figure 7. Aflatoxin Exposure, and Health and Economic Characteristics of Selected Nations
% population
living below
national poverty
line
16
GdP per capita,
2010 uSd
Aflatoxin
exposure, ng/
kgBw/day
% stunted children*
france 6.2 34,250 0.3 – 1.3 nA
Spain 19.8 29,649 0.3 – 1.3 nA
uSA 12 47,702 0.26 4
Argentina 30 15,030 0 – 4 8
thailand 13 8,479 53 – 73 16
china 5 7,240 17 – 37 22
the Gambia 58 1,479 4 – 115 28
Philippines 37 3,604 44 – 54 34
kenya 52 1,783 3.5 – 133 36
nigeria 34 2,357 139 – 227 43
tanzania 36 1,484 0.02 – 50 44
india 29 3,176 4 – 100 48
note: GDP = gross domestic product; nA = not available or unreported; *for the percentage of stunted
children, this figure uses data for “children under the age of 5 years that are underweight”
Sources: Khlangwiset, 2011, Indexmundi www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?r=69
Aflatoxin has also been linked to kwashiorkor, a disease caused by proteinenergy
malnutrition. Kwashiorkor has some characteristics associated with
the pathological effects caused by aflatoxin exposure in animals, but the link
between aflatoxin exposure and kwashiorkor is not clear. 40 Despite these
preliminary findings, the mechanisms by which aflatoxin affects growth are
currently unknown and require further clarification. 41 the mortality rates from
liver disease, which are high in Africa, especially in relation to protein-energy
malnutrition, are shown in figure 8. 42 the worldwide incidence of liver disease,
including hepatitis B and c, protein-energy malnutrition, liver cirrhosis, and liver
cancer, is shown in figure 9.