Sepideh Seifi - Medical Student, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat. Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both the mother and infant. Breast milk contains all the nutrients an infant needs in the first six months of life. The present study aimed to measure aflatoxin M۱ (AFM۱) levels in breast milk and identify nutritional and socio-demographic factors associated with AFM۱ levels. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess AFM۱ levels in the breast milk of ۱۰۰ mothers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), ۲۰ of whom had COVID-۱۹ in the past ۴ months during June ۲۰۲۰-March ۲۰۲۱. The participants were given a questionnaire to answer nutritional and socio-demographic questions, such as age, place of residence, COVID-۱۹, educational status, employment status, and body mass index (BMI). Results: The mean age of mothers was ۲۹.۱ ± ۴.۹ years. Based on the results, ۳۹/۱۰۰ samples had AFM۱ more than ۵ ng/l, and all ۲۰ mothers who previously had COVID-۱۹ had AFM۱ in their milk. The mean AFM۱ was ۷.۱۰ ng/l and ranged ۵.۳۷–۹.۰۱ ng/l. Consumption of milk and yogurt also significantly increased AFM۱ in milk. Moreover, place of residence and BMI and COVID-۱۹ had a statistically significant effect on the presence of AFM۱. Conclusion: The AFM۱ contamination was significantly associated with the consumption of milk and yogurt by the lactating mother. Breastfeeding mothers should be careful in their food intake and try to fit their BMI. The presence of aflatoxin in the lactating mothers who previously had COVID-۱۹ indicates that their children are more vulnerable.

Aflatoxin M۱, Mycotoxins, Breast milk, COVID-۱۹