Aflatoxins are poisons that appear in foods due to storage violations. These substances have a pronounced hepatotoxic effect. A large amount of poison can even be fatal. The presence of these toxins in food is far from always visually noticeable. Therefore, poisoning is very easy. Each person needs to know about the signs of intoxication with these substances, as well as the rules for providing first aid to the patient.
What are aflatoxins?
In poor-quality food, molds are formed - Aspergillus. Aflatoxins are a vital product of such microorganisms. In humid conditions, food molds with the release of poisons. Aflatoxins belong to a large group of substances called mycotoxins. These are poisons that produce fungal microorganisms.
4 types of aflatoxins are distinguished - these are B1, B2, G1 and G2. In addition, the products may contain their metabolites - M1, M2, G2a and others. These poisons are very stable and persist even when boiling or frying food.
Mold can not always be detected by the appearance of the product. Food can change neither taste nor smell. However, if the products have obvious signs of mold, they must be discarded immediately. Such foods can cause serious health damage. Yellow mold is especially dangerous, this is a clear sign of food contamination with aspergillus.
Often housewives cut off the moldy edge of bread or potatoes and eat the product. In no case should this be done; such food must be thrown away. If mold has already formed on food, then the fungus cannot be removed. A microorganism spreads its threads deep into the structure of the product. Long heat treatment does not help either. Aflatoxins are very stable compounds that do not decompose under the influence of high temperatures.
The effect of mycotoxins on the body
When ingested, aflatoxins attack the liver. These poisons cause fatty degeneration of hepatocytes, which in the future can lead to cirrhosis.
Mycotoxins inhibit protein synthesis in the body. This causes damage to the heart muscle and kidneys, and also negatively affects immunity. Especially dangerous is the use of contaminated products for pregnant women. Fungal mold poisons can cause abnormalities in the fetus. Also, these toxins can pass into breast milk and cause poisoning of the baby.
The lethal dose of aflatoxin is 75 mg per 1 kg of human weight. With such severe poisoning, a fatal outcome occurs within two days due to liver failure.
The toxic dose of aflatoxin is 1.7 mg per 1 kg of body weight. Even in such small amounts, this substance is toxic. If small doses of mycotoxins are systematically delivered to the human body, then chronic poisoning develops. This condition is characterized by the following manifestations:
- deterioration in the absorption of fats and pigments;
- violation of the metabolism of vitamins and minerals;
- violation of the production of bile salts;
- increased fragility of bones;
- a decrease in the body's defenses;
- delayed physical and mental development in children.
Such violations occur if a person for a long time consumes foods with aflatoxins. In this case, health problems develop gradually. If a large amount of poison enters the body, then the symptoms of acute poisoning develop.
For a person weighing about 65 kg, a daily dose of aflatoxins from 0.4 to 0.7 mcg is considered safe. Such a small amount of these substances does not lead to deviations in well-being.
What products contain
What foods contain such hazardous substances? Aflatoxins can be found in any food infected with mold. Most often, this poison is found in the following products:
- nuts
- tea;
- spices;
- dried fruits;
- cereals;
- bread;
- coffee;
- rice;
- corn;
- milk;
- meat;
- eggs.
Aflatoxin M1 in milk, eggs and meat is found in those cases when the products were obtained from animals that consumed infected cereal feed. In coffee, tea and nuts, another type of poison is formed - B1. It has not only hepatotoxic, but also carcinogenic effects. People often mistakenly believe that tea and coffee can be stored for a very long time. However, these products also have their own shelf life, after which toxins can form in them. Pay attention to the smell of tea or coffee. When infected with a fungus, these products acquire an unpleasant musty aroma.
Aflatoxin is more commonly found in peanuts than in other foods. Even fried grains can be infected, because heat treatment does not destroy this poison.
How to determine the presence of poisons
As already mentioned, it is impossible to detect this poison in products with the naked eye. To detect food contamination, a special analysis for aflatoxin is necessary. This is only possible in the laboratory.
Determination of aflatoxin B1 is carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Before analysis, the sample is cleaned of pigments and fats. The amount of toxin in the product is measured using a fluorescent or diode array detector. This is currently the most accurate method for determining aflatoxin. In this way, you can find out the amount of toxic impurities in nuts, tea, coffee, grain and other dry foods.
The determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk and its processed products by HPLC is rather laborious and time consuming. Therefore, in such cases, special screening test systems are used: "Ridascreen Fast Aflatoxin M1" and "Ridascreen Aflatoxin M1". They have high sensitivity and allow you to identify poisons within 30 - 120 minutes (depending on the type of product).
Symptoms of Poisoning
If a small amount of poison constantly enters the human body, then chronic aflatoxicosis occurs. Gradually, fatty degeneration of liver cells occurs. Pathology is characterized by a slow course and without treatment leads to cirrhosis.
When a large amount of poison enters the body, acute aflatoxicosis develops. The first signs of deterioration in well-being appear within 30 minutes after eating contaminated food. In aflatoxin poisoning, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- headache;
- feeling tired, apathy;
- impaired coordination of movements;
- gait disturbance;
- pain in the liver;
- dyspeptic symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea);
- cramps
- paralysis;
- swelling
- fever.
Acute aflatoxin poisoning is an extremely dangerous condition. Without treatment, a person dies within 48 hours of liver failure. Therefore, in such cases, you must immediately call an ambulance. Especially dangerous is such poisoning for a child. Acute aflatoxicosis in childhood leads to death in 80% of cases.
First aid
Before the arrival of doctors, the patient needs first aid. It is necessary to rinse the stomach and give the patient an enterosorbent. This will help partially remove the poison from the body. To cleanse the intestines, you need to put an enema with saline.
If the patient has severe diarrhea and vomiting, then there is a risk of dehydration. Therefore, the patient should be given a small amount of liquid to drink.
Further treatment is carried out in a hospital setting.
Diagnostics
The doctor reveals acute aflatoxicosis according to the clinical picture of the disease. It is also important to establish: what foods the patient consumed shortly before poisoning.
In some cases, laboratory research methods are required. Serological and biochemical blood tests are prescribed.
Acute poisoning treatment methods
In the acute form of aflatoxicosis, the patient is urgently hospitalized in a hospital. Therapy of poisoning begins with washing the stomach with a probe. This prevents the absorption of poisons.
At the same time, a course of enterosorbents is prescribed: "Smecta", "Enterosgel", "Lactofiltrum". These drugs help toxin bind and remove the poison from the body through the intestines. Enterosorbents must be taken for at least 5 days.
The patient is given droppers with detoxification solutions. Along with this, diuretics are prescribed. This therapy facilitates the elimination of aflatoxins through the kidneys.
The appointment of antifungal drugs is indicated. These medications are antidotes to aflatoxins and affect the etiology of the disease. The following drugs are used:
- Itraconazole (Irunin).
- Cancidas
- Amphotericin.
- Vfend.
Immunostimulants are prescribed: "Timalin", "Tsitovir". During the recovery period, vitamin therapy is indicated. Particularly useful is the use of B vitamins and ascorbic acid.
Prevention
To prevent severe aflatoxin poisoning, the following rules must be observed:
- When purchasing food products, you need to pay attention to their expiration date. Very often, an increased amount of aflatoxins is found in expired foods.
- Do not eat even with slight signs of mold.
- Avoid purchasing products that were stored in high humidity, such as open markets.
- Large stocks of cereals, tea and coffee should not be created. At home, it is not always possible to comply with all the necessary storage rules.
- It is often necessary to include celery, parsley and carrots in the diet. These products reduce the damage from ingestion of aflatoxins.
Particular care must be taken when purchasing and using baby food. Aflatoxin intoxication is extremely dangerous for the child. Packaging with baby food should be clean and dry, the mixture must be sniffed and tasted before giving them to the baby. Open jars may only be stored in the refrigerator and used as soon as possible. This will help to avoid severe and dangerous intoxication.