According to agricultural and health experts, Exposure to aflatoxin, a mycotoxin produced by fungi that commonly contaminates cereal crops across sub-Saharan Exposure to large doses, known as acute aflatoxicosis can lead to acute illness and death and has been associated with impaired child growth.
A study has revealed the impact of aflatoxin exposure on the growth of Gambian infants from birth to two years of age and the impact on insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-axis proteins.
This study found a small but significant effect of aflatoxin exposure on the growth of Gambian infants.
Dietary exposure to aflatoxins is among the major risk factors. Aflatoxin B1, which is a genotoxic hepatocarcinogen, which presumptively causes cancer by inducing DNA adducts leading to genetic changes in target liver cells.
