EJMS

Abstract

Objectives: The current study tried to determine the effects of exposure to fumonisins on kidney and liver functions tests and sphingolipid metabolites. Patients & Methods: 80 apparently healthy participants of Area 1(A1) that was considered as area heavily contaminated by fumonisins and Area 2 (A2) that was considered as low contamination area. Ten urban volunteers were enrolled as a control group. All participants underwent full history taking, complete clinical examination with special regard to liver and kidney and gave blood samples for estimation of serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), urea, creatinine, and plasma lipid profile, and ELISA estimation of plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels Results: The mean levels of serum AST, ALT, urea, and creatinine were significantly higher, while plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c) and S1P were significantly lower in samples of study participants in comparison to samples of controls, with significant differences between participants of both groups. Duration of exposure showed a positive correlation with estimated serum AST, ALT, urea, and creatinine while showing a negative correlation with estimated levels of plasma HDL-c and S1P. Estimated plasma S1P showed a negative correlation with participants' age and serum levels of AST, ALT, urea, and creatinine while showing a positive significant correlation with plasma levels of HDL-c. Regression analysis defined long duration and severity of exposure and older age as predictors for low plasma S1P, which is a predictor for impaired liver enzymes levels, kidney affection, and low plasma HDL-c. Conclusion: Chronic fumonisin exposure deleteriously, but gradually affects kidney and liver functions, either directly or through disturbing the sphingolipid metabolism and depletion of sphingosine. Low serum levels of S1P were found to correlate with renal and hepatic affection and could be used as an early marker for the detection of such changes.