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Urugo MM, Teka TA, Lema TB, Lusweti JN, Djedjibegovíc J, Lachat C, Tesfamariam K, Mesfin A, Astatkie T, Abdel-Wahhab MA. Dietary aflatoxins exposure, environmental enteropathy, and their relation with childhood stunting. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38404064 DOI: 10.1080/09637486.2024.2314676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Childhood stunting is a global phenomenon affecting more than 149 million children under the age of 5 worldwide. Exposure to aflatoxins (AFs) in utero, during breastfeeding, and consumption of contaminated food affect the gut microbiome, resulting in intestinal dysfunction and potentially contributing to stunting. This review explores the potential relationship between AF exposure, environmental enteropathy and childhood stunting. AFs bind to DNA, disrupt protein synthesis and elicit environmental enteropathy (EE). An EE alters the structure of intestinal epithelial cells, impairs nutrient uptake and leads to malabsorption. This article proposes possible intervention strategies for researchers and policymakers to reduce AF exposure, EE and childhood stunting, such as exposure reduction, the implementation of good agricultural practices, dietary diversification and improving environmental water sanitation and hygiene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markos Makiso Urugo
- Department of Food Science and Postharvest Technology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Wachemo University, Hosaina, Ethiopia
- Department of Postharvest Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Tilahun A Teka
- Department of Postharvest Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Tefera Belachew Lema
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | | | | | - Carl Lachat
- Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kokeb Tesfamariam
- Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia
| | - Addisalem Mesfin
- Center of Excellence in Mycotoxicology and Public Health, MYTOX-SOUTH, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Tess Astatkie
- Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Mosaad A Abdel-Wahhab
- Food Toxicology & Contaminants Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
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Iron-Segev S, Lusweti JN, Kamau-Mbuthia E, Stark AH. Impact of Community-Based Nutrition Education on Geophagic Behavior and Dietary Knowledge and Practices among Rural Women in Nakuru Town, Kenya: A Pilot Study. J Nutr Educ Behav 2018; 50:408-414.e1. [PMID: 29277491 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2017.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Geophagia, the deliberate consumption of rocks, soil, or clay, is prevalent in developing countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. Health risks associated with this behavior include parasitosis, heavy metal poisoning, nutrient deficiencies, and poor birth outcomes. This pilot study was designed to reduce geophagic practices and improve nutrition among rural Kenyan women. METHODS The researchers used snowball sampling to recruit participants (n = 135; aged 15-49 years) from low socioeconomic areas who consumed geophagic materials. Interviews were carried out before and after a nutrition intervention implemented by trained community health volunteers. RESULTS Nutrition education focusing on geophagia significantly (P < .001) decreased the practice in 77% of participants. Postintervention interviews also demonstrated substantial improvement in understanding the concept of making half the plate vegetables using the healthy plate model. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Nutrition education can be useful for reducing geophagia (a largely ignored, unsafe dietary behavior) and enhancing nutritional knowledge in African women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Iron-Segev
- Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science, and Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Janerose Nasimiyu Lusweti
- Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science, and Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Aliza H Stark
- Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science, and Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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