Assessment of Aflatoxin Contamination in Commonly Consumed Groundnut Products and Its Hepatic Biomarker Implications in Kano State, North West Nigeria

Aflatoxin contamination of groundnut products is a significant public health concern in Nigeria, with chronic low-level exposure implicated in hepatotoxicity, immunosuppression, and hepatocellular carcinoma risk. This study assessed aflatoxin levels in groundnut products and evaluated hepatic biomarker profiles in regular consumers in Kano State, North West Nigeria. In the food safety component, 80 groundnut product samples including roasted groundnuts, groundnut cake, and groundnut paste were collected from markets in Kano metropolis and analysed for aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2 by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. In the human component, 120 adult regular groundnut consumers and 60 non-consumer controls were recruited, and serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and aflatoxin-albumin adduct levels were measured. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 73.8% of samples, exceeding the EU maximum permissible level of 2 micrograms per kilogram in 51.3% of contaminated samples. Groundnut paste had the highest contamination levels. Regular consumers had significantly elevated aflatoxin-albumin adduct levels compared to controls. Serum ALT and AST were significantly higher in consumers with high adduct levels. A positive correlation was established between dietary exposure intensity and liver enzyme elevation. The findings demonstrate a significant aflatoxin exposure and subclinical hepatic injury burden in Kano and recommend enhanced post-harvest storage practices, mandatory aflatoxin testing at production and market levels, and consumer education on safe groundnut storage. Keywords: aflatoxin, groundnut, hepatotoxicity, liver enzymes, Kano State