Ugali maziwa. Eating ugali and drinking milk in Kenya may make men infertile due to aflatoxin levels. [Photo: newkcc.co.ke]
Eating ugali and drinking milk in Kenya may make men infertile if a research by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is anything to go by.
The institution conducted the research in October last year revealing that milk, maize and sorghum sold in Kenya contain aflatoxin which could lead to infertility in men. The toxin can also cause cancer meaning the entire population is at risk.
According to ILRI researchers, 95 percent of the 403 maize samples collected from households and retailers in Nairobi contained aflatoxin.
The poison is produced by mould found in food and it was discovered in all samples of milk, sorghum and maize which ironically are the common staples in Kenya.
Medical researchers from Moi University, Eldoret, conducted animal tests on 12 pigs by feeding them with aflatoxin contaminated feed for 60 days.
Findings recorded in the East African Medical Journal show the team observed early abnormal swelling of blood vessels in the testicles.
They also conducted tests on the liver and in the testes and the epididymis, they discovered evidence of degeneration and premature death of sperm cells.
The report shows that the aflatoxin within the testes caused changes that could result in a low sperm count.
Researchers reported that an over-production of cells is a sign of early development of cancer with the study also reporting signs of scarring on the liver indicating early stages of liver cirrhosis.
Pigs were used in the study because their bodies have an almost similar functioning to that of humans.