Various aspects of the effect of nutritional factors on the metabolism and biological action of aflatoxin B1 in the rat liver

: Interrelationships between the quality of nutrition, oxidative hydroxylation of aflatoxin B1 and lipid peroxidation were studied in biomembranes of hepatocyte endoplasmic reticulum of growing male rats of the WAG strain. Activity of the liver microsomal monooxygenase, lipid peroxidation as well as metabolism of aflatoxin B1 were shown to depend on presence of three essential amino acids (lysine, methionine and threonine) and vitamins A, E and C. Deficiency of these compounds altered the aflatoxin metabolism causing formation of highly reactive metabolites, which might accelerate the carcinogenic effect of the xenobiotic. However, formation of free toxic metabolites of aflatoxin was stimulated under conditions of balanced nutrition as a result of which its toxic effect might be increased.