A study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene examines the relationship between maternal aflatoxin exposure during pregnancy, birth outcomes, and subsequent infant growth in a Ugandan cohort.
Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced primarily by Aspergillus species and are a recognized contaminant of staple crops including maize and groundnuts in sub-Saharan Africa. Chronic dietary exposure during pregnancy has been studied as a contributor to adverse birth outcomes and growth faltering in infants in regions where contamination is endemic.
The paper adds to a growing body of evidence on maternal mycotoxin exposure as a developmental health concern, and underscores the role of food-system surveillance in regions where aflatoxin contamination of staple grains is common.