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The effects of aflatoxin B1 on the development of kwashiorkor in mice

Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Unit, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, SWhhiye, Ankara, Turkey 06100 cankocabas{at}yahoo.com

Turgay Cokun

Department of Nutrition and Metabolism, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, SWhhiye, Ankara, Turkey

Murat Yurdakök

Department of Neonatalogy, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, SWhhiye, Ankara, Turkey

Rwfkw HazwrogÆlu

Department of Pathology, Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary, DWkapW, Ankara, Turkey

Seventy Swiss albino mice (6-week-old male) were selected for the investigation into aflatoxin B₁'s role in the cause of kwashiorkor. The mice were divided randomly into four groups. They were grouped within each group by being fed either low or normal protein level diets supplemented with very small amounts of aflatoxin B₁ (0.5 mg/day). The control groups were fed aflatoxin B₁-free diets containing either normal or low protein levels. All groups were monitored for 7 weeks. The increase in body weight was found to be low in groups I and II, given diets contaminated with aflatoxin B₁. Although groups II and IV, which were given low dietary protein, showed remarkable decreases in serum total protein and albumin levels (group II: total protein 4.1±-0.1 g/dL, albumin 2.6±-0.8 g/dL and group IV: total protein 4.6±-1.3 g/dL, albumin 2.8±-0.82 g/dL) when compared with the groups fed a normal dietary protein level (group I: total protein 5.9±-1.3 g/dL, albumin 3.4±-0.7 g/dL and group III: total protein 5.4±-1.6 g/dL, albumin 3.5±-1.2 g/dL; P B-0.05). The statistical difference between these two groups was found not to be significant (P -0.05). However, decreases in total protein and albumin levels were a little more prominent in group II. In addition, histopatological changes of the liver was remarkable in the group fed a low protein diet and aflatoxin B₁ when compared with the group fed only a low protein diet and no aflatoxin B₁. More significantly, however, was the increase in liver weight in both groups fed a low protein diet (groups II and IV). Our conclusion is that aflatoxin B₁ could not have contributed to the development of kwashiorkor.

Key Words: aflatoxin B1 • kwashiorkor

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