Lack of relationship between sorghum consumption, mycotoxin contamination and pellagra in a traditionally sorghum eating population.

Traditionally, the disease pellagra has been associated with corn consumption and niacin deficiency, and has presently been recognised as a multiple factor nutritional syndrome. In the recent past, it has been suggested that consumption of mycotoxin contaminated sorghum/corn may be involved in the development of pellagra in a sorghum/corn eating population. The present study relates to the assessment of levels of mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1 and T-2 toxin) in sorghum collected from a traditionally sorghum eating population. Despite 25% fungal contamination in the sorghum samples collected, the levels of mycotoxins were minimal (1.4%) and there was no incidence of pellagra in the survey area. The absence of pellagra in the survey areas may be attributed to the changing dietary pattern.