Aflatoxin exposure and its relationship to kwashiorkor in African children.

The urinary excretion of aflatoxins in normal children from a periurban area, as well as those hospitalized with kwashiorkor and marasmus was assessed. In no case was aflatoxin isolated from the urine. It is concluded that aflatoxin exposure is unusual in this population and that aflatoxins do not play a primary role in the pathogenesis of kwashiorkor.