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The effects of season and gender on the serum aflatoxins and ochratoxin A levels of healthy adult subjects from the Central Anatolia Region, Turkey

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of season and gender on serum aflatoxin (AF) levels (AFG1, AFB1, AFG2 and AFB2) and ochratoxin A (OTA) concentrations of healthy adult population living in Central Anatolia Region of Turkey.

Methods

AF levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and OTA levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples of healthy adults (n = 233).

Results

In summer and winter, total AF levels in females were 0.98 ± 0.10 and 0.94 ± 0.12 ng/ml and in males 1.35 ± 0.17 and 0.93 ± 0.11 ng/ml, respectively. Male subjects had significantly higher serum total AF levels in summer compared with females (~38 %). There was no marked seasonal change in AFG1, AFB1 and AFG2 concentrations in the whole population, except AFB2. Both of the genders had significantly higher OTA levels in winter compared with summer (~60 %).

Conclusions

Overall results suggest that Central Anatolia residents are continuously exposed to AFs and OTA. Besides, season and gender can be effective in mycotoxin exposure.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Hacettepe University Research Fund (Contract Grant number: 0401301002).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Suna Sabuncuoglu, Pinar Erkekoglu, Sevtap Aydin & Belma Kocer-Gumusel

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, East Mediterranean University, Famagusta, The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

    Gönül Şahin

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  1. Suna Sabuncuoglu
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  2. Pinar Erkekoglu
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  3. Sevtap Aydin
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  4. Gönül Şahin
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Correspondence to Belma Kocer-Gumusel.

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Sabuncuoglu, S., Erkekoglu, P., Aydin, S. et al. The effects of season and gender on the serum aflatoxins and ochratoxin A levels of healthy adult subjects from the Central Anatolia Region, Turkey. Eur J Nutr 54, 629–638 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0744-6

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