The progression of HIV has now been shown to be related to two toxins within corn: aflatoxin and fumonisin, both of which are in much of the corn consumed in Africa.
HIV infection combined with high concentrations of the aflatoxin-albumin adduct biomarker have been associated with a decreased potential for antibody responses, decreased immune cytotoxic activity and decreased numbers of regulatory T cells, which may result in hyperactivation of the immune system. Thus, dietary sources of aflatoxin are a potential factor in the HIV epidemic.
The corn grown in the United States could contain the toxins but good farming practices in the United States reduce toxin levels.
Williams estimates that simple changes to farming practices in Africa alone could prevent one million infections per year.
That reduction in HIV infections reduces suffering and death as well as reducing the costs to governments particularly the United States that funds a vast majority of the HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in Africa.
This research is the strongest correlation found to date between a common food and the worldwide spread of disease.
The research paper was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on June 30, 2010.
[Birmingham Science News Examiner]
What? Bull crap
There must be an element of truth in this. Maize could have some weakness in it.
This is a discussion worthy propounding, people.
Mmh – interesting. Perhaps we should go back to the traditional staples we had before the introduction of maize such as sorghum and millet which are also more drought resistant.
I still believe Western Countries are behind the manufacturing of HIV with an aim to reduce African population or to extinct African population. I remember when Zambia was given relief food (Yellow maize 1990) from America that is when the issues of HIV when rapid. In 1980s it was not all that bad. The world we live in. Some times its hard to believe some ideologies including wars. Becareful before you live in the world only to make Europeans and Americans happy.
I would be interested in the description of the”good farming practices” mentioned. Am pulling my hair right now.
This report is sexing up the truth — why: The corn grown in the United States could contain the toxins but good farming practices in the United States reduce toxin levels. ? These researchers seem to be torn b/n the loses to the US that could result from this research and are trying to defend it and the fact that some light has come up from their research. How can we trust them except we pick it up ourselves? Do you see that our mama nshima is at risk here?
As a researcher I should be availled with all the rsearch work behind this. And how only USA’s corn is safe than our african maize? Is he proposig that we start buying the USA’ maize? Mhhhh this reasearch piece of work should be followed so carefully. Researchers in Africa, Zambia n particular should take up this and study it to the fullest before these guys force us into buying their corn. BE CAREFULL WITH SUCH INFO.
Hmm nomba chabafumya kuli Ba Kolwe chabatwala kumataba. Awe fyashupa nomba mwe!
Thanks to the late PM (MHSRIP) for rejecting GMO Maize. GMOs could be the easy tools by the west to manipulate gens in Maize for the purpose of wiping out Africans. We were always suspicious of GMO food because we suspected some unknown long term dangerous effect.
Now my Google is busy for words fumonisin and aflatoxin.
#8, do you notice that monkeys and Maize are inseparable ?
Bull shit.lesa eka ba zungu aba they think we are so dull.fake
Some facts from previous research:
Fumonisin B1 is the most prevalent member of a family of toxins, known as fumonisins, produced by several species of Fusarium molds, such as Fusarium moniliforme,[1] which occur mainly in maize, wheat and other cereals. Fumonisin B1 contamination of maize has been reported worldwide at mg/kg levels. Human exposure occurs at levels of micrograms to milligrams per day and is greatest in regions where maize products are the dietary staple.
Fumonisin B1 is an inhibitor of ceramide synthase.
Fumonisin B1 is hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic in all animal species tested. The earliest histological change to appear in either the liver or kidney of fumonisin-treated animals is increased apoptosis followed by regenerative cell proliferation. While the acute…
Think of this. First, link maize (a major staple food Africa) to the deadly HIV. Next argue that GMO maize is the alternative. Then place a patent on the GMO maize and make a killing.
I have always wondered how rich one would be there was a patent on our dear Nshima. The corporate world is running the market for seed in developed nations and are making a killing there.
Cont.
While the acute toxicity of fumonisin is low, it is the known cause of two diseases which occur in domestic animals with rapid onset: equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary oedema syndrome. Both of these diseases involve disturbed sphingolipid metabolism and cardiovascular dysfunction.
The Fumonisins B1 and B2 were discovered in 1988
Am running out of time. Gone home.
Fumonosin and aflatoxin are not present in maize but are toxins produced by certain fungal species which thrive on maize or any other cereal crop or legume (beans, groundnuts etc.,.) that is not stored properly. Please people do not be alarmed. Those who want to link this issue to GMO’s without knowing what you are talking about should reserve your uneducated comments because GMO’s specifically engineered to resist fungi that produce aflatoxin and fumonosin are a very good way of preventing the presence of these toxins in our food. Their is a link between the toxins and various cancers and liver disease, but this HIV story new and requires a lot more research before people can make any valid conclusions about it.
Sensetionalism at its worst!
ubwali kwena eehhh!i cant be surprised if true.
#12, 14 WE CAN, English please. Not every one on this blog is capable of understanding those medical terms. Break it down!
No more nshima lol :o
This is getting completely absurd. If ‘corn’ was linked to the spread of HIV, the US would be the most infected nation in the world. They put corn in everything, from cornflakes to corn syrup.
Back on planet earth, the perception that HIV is widespread in Africa, is based solely on the use of unrepresentative survey types (Antenatal Clinic Surveys as opposed to Demographic and Health Surveys), and the use of highly sensitive ELISA/EIA tests during those surveys, instead of confirming positive ELISA tests with highly specific confirmation tests, called Western Blot tests.
If DHS surveys were used and Western Blot was used for confirmation, my guess is that HIV infection in Zambia would be under 1%.
Of course, there is no money in that.
corn that was and is distributed to africa is not safe because of criminals from the west, may the good lord punish these cruel criminals. this is why RB is even against their conditional aid.
Just another scam hatched by these f.u.c.k.er.s with the sole aim of defrauding sleepy African governments. This is a load first class crap that is not even worth publishing. LT, you must learn to differentiate sense from nonsense, please!!
This research should not be believed in its current form. It lacks quite a lot of substance for these findings to accepted. We are not told for example which farming practice the researchers compared. The word farming practice is too wide and vague. What variety of maize are we looking at? Who funded the research? Can they explain why HIV is rampant in Asia where the staple food is rice and not corn? I want to believe that the money behind this study must have come from some American GMO corn producing organisation or just corn in general.
This doesn’t look right.
btw, @ 4 your point is not making sense to me. HIV comes in the 80s but you blame the maize that comes in the 90s? There are plenty of reasons why the virus was worst in the 90s that have nothing to do with USA giving Z some yellow maize! If it were not for medical advances like HAART and big awareness campaigns it would be even worse today. Should you blame the whatever the USA gave Z last year?
HIV is complex, no one even knows for sure how it started, or when (earliest undisputed evidence is 1959 in Kinshasa) and of course no one has found a cure or an immunisation. This story does not look to me like it will enlighten anyone.
If corn spread HIV, the USA would be the most infected nation on the planet.
Everyone should check out the documentary, King Corn. (As well as Food Inc.)
i neither agree nor refute the findings of this so called research! if anything the conclusion and propositions in this research raise more questions than answers. above all, the report is too brief and to make any sense to an ordinary person. if you broke this news to my grandmother she would ask you this question: do you mean that the maize we used to eat before the discovery or rather the ‘manufacturing’ of the HIV never had these so called toxins (aflaton and fumonisin)? if anything the findings of this research are illogical. Nsima ili che!
For as long as humans keep on relying on there own wisdom and understanding they will never find the cure for this pandemic.Lets continue praying to God.Isaiah 55:9
We have known Aflatoxins to be associated with liver cancer but this is new. Indeed we also know that Aflatoxins are present in ground nuts as well. Corn and ground nuts are not native to Africa. I suggest that Africans return to their native cereals like millet and sorghum once again.
#3 Makanja
I agree 100%. I now eat millet on. Regular basis and when milled in modern ways, it is better than mealie meal.
Ba Saint # 29 and 20. Those toxins can be present on any cereal including millet and sorghum because they are produced by organisms (fungi) that attack cereals. The toxins are not produced by maize. There are only 3 soluutions to solving aflatoxin problems. 1). Storage at correct temperatures; 2). Use of fungicides during long term storage; 3). Engineering crop hybrids with a natural defense system to ward off the toxin producing fungi. Simply eating millet and sorghum is not a solution.
This is bull, This is the craziest crap I have ever heard. Who ever did this research needs to go back to school. American corn should contain these deadly toxins not the zambian one. Anyhow noone believes this.