Association of aflatoxin B(1)-albumin adduct levels with hepatitis B surface antigen status among adolescents in Taiwan

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2001 Nov;10(11):1223-6.

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) exposure interact synergetically to induce hepatocellular carcinoma. One suggested mechanism for this interaction is the enhanced activation of AFB(1) in chronically HBV-infected individuals. Whereas no associations between chronic HBV infection and AFB(1)-albumin adducts were observed in several studies in adults, hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg)-positive children were found to have elevated adducts in Gambia. To assess the association between chronic HBV infection and AFB(1)-albumin adduct level in Taiwan, 200 junior high school adolescents from 20 townships were assayed for HBsAg and AFB(1)-albumin adducts. The mean AFB(1)-albumin adduct level was higher in HBsAg-positive compared with HBsAg-negative subjects. The association between HBsAg status and AFB(1)-albumin adducts remained after multivariate adjustment. This finding additionally supports the synergetic interaction between HBV and AFB(1), but the mechanism remains to be elucidated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aflatoxin B1 / metabolism*
  • Aflatoxin B1 / urine
  • Albumins / metabolism*
  • DNA Adducts / blood*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / blood*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Taiwan

Substances

  • Albumins
  • DNA Adducts
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Aflatoxin B1