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 microg/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 +/- 1.3g/dL,
albumin 3.4 +/- 0.7g/dL and group III: total
protein 5.4 +/- 1.6g/dL,
albumin 3.5 +/- 1.2g/dL; P < 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.