Urinary fumonisin B1 and estimated fumonisin intake in women from high and low exposure communities in Guatemala

Authors: TORRES, OLGA - National Institute Of Public Health (INSP); MATUTE, JORGE - National Institute Of Public Health (INSP); GELINEAU-VAN WAES, JANEE - Creighton University; MADDOX, JOYCE - Creighton University; GREGORY, SIMON - Duke University Medical Center; ASHLEY-KOCH, ALLISON - Duke University Medical Center; Showker, Adele; ZITOMER, NICHOLAS - Former ARS Employee; Voss, Kenneth; Riley, Ronald

Submitted to: Molecular Nutrition and Food Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/28/2013
Publication Date: 5/1/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/58743
Citation: Torres, O., Matute, J., Gelineau-Van Waes, J., Maddox, J.R., Gregory, S.G., Ashley-Koch, A.E., Showker, A.J., Zitomer, N.C., Voss, K.A., Riley, R.T. 2014. Urinary fumonisin B1 and estimated fumonisin intake in women from high and low exposure communities in Guatemala. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. 58(5):973-983. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201300481.

Interpretive Summary: Fumonisins (FB) are toxic chemicals produced by molds and often found in corn. The purpose of this study was to 1) determine urinary FB (UFB) in women consuming corn in high and low exposure communities in Guatemala, 2) determine the FB levels in corn collected at the same time as urine, 3) determine the relationship between the quantity of UFB and dietary FB intake, and 4) determine the relative excretion of UFB1, UFB2 and UFB3 (other FBs that co-occur in corn). Urine and corn were analyzed for FB for one year in three departamentos (equivalent to counties in the USA). Corn consumption was estimated by questionnaire. FB1, FB2 and FB3 were detected in 100% of corn samples. FB1 in corn and urine were significantly higher in Jutiapa compared to Chimaltenango or Escuintla. The total FB intake paralleled UFB1 in a dose-dependent manner but UFB1 was present in much higher levels than UFB2 or UFB3 compared to levels in corn. Conclusions: In Jutiapa agro-ecological conditions favor FB production and UFB1 was significantly higher than in Chimaltenango or Escuintla. UFB1 mirrored the levels of estimated FB intake in all three departamentos, and when UFB1 was >0.5 ng/ml women were likely to exceed the recommended provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (2 µg/kg b.w./day) proposed by the World Health Organization Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives. This was true regardless of how FB intake was estimated. While UFB2 and UFB3 were occasionally detected, the results confirmed that FB1 is preferentially excreted in urine. These results are important because future epidemiological studies to determine whether or not FB intake contributes to any human disease should focus on populations where the UFB1 is equal to or greater than 0.5 ng/ml.

Technical Abstract: Scope: Fumonisin (FB) intake can be high when maize is a dietary staple. We determined 1) urinary FB (UFB) in women consuming maize in high and low exposure communities in Guatemala, 2) the FB levels in maize, 3) the stoichiometric relationship between UFB and FB intake, and 4) the relative excretion of UFB1, UFB2 and UFB3. Methods and results: Urine and maize were analyzed for FB for one year in three departamentos. Maize consumption was estimated by questionnaire. FB1, FB2 and FB3 were detected in 100% of maize samples. FB1 in maize and urine were significantly higher in Jutiapa compared to Chimaltenango or Escuintla. The total FB intake paralleled UFB1 in a dose-dependent manner but UFB1 was present in much higher levels than UFB2 or UFB3 compared to levels in maize. Conclusions: In Jutiapa agro-ecological conditions favor FB production and UFB1 was significantly higher than in Chimaltenango or Escuintla. UFB1 mirrored the levels of estimated FB intake in all three departamentos, and when UFB1 was >0.5 ng/ml women were likely to exceed 2 µg/kg b.w./day regardless of how FB intake was estimated. While UFB2 and UFB3 were occasionally detected, the results confirmed that FB1 is preferentially excreted in urine.