Mushrooms in rice and corn make HIV more fertile

Research by US scientists shows that two common types of mold in food in developing countries aggravate the condition of people with HIV.

The work of the research team at the University of Alabama published in the World Mycotoxin Journal suggests that foods like rice, wheat, corn . are stored in warehouses near countries in the equator in Asia and Africa is susceptible to Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus - two types of aflatoxin-producing fungi .

Epidemiology professor Pauline Jolly and colleagues found that aflatoxin significantly increased the amount of HIV in patients' blood.

Mushroom Aspergillus flavus on corn seed - (Photo ces.ncsu)

The research team studied over 314 HIV-positive cases divided into 4 groups, according to the level of exposure and aflatoxin levels. The results showed that the most aflatoxin-infected group was 2.6 times more likely to develop HIV than the least aflatoxin-infected group.

Aflatoxins have been reported to cause cancer and liver damage to humans and animals. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed a restriction on the level of aflatoxin in food, especially animal feed, but in developing countries there is no regulation. so.

The research team said that there should be a determination and warning about the state of food containing aflatoxin, especially for rice - the type of food used frequently in many Asian - African countries.