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Antioxidant status and acute malaria in children in Kampala, Uganda
A Metzger1, G Mukasa, A H Shankar
1Department of International Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Insights
Children with acute malaria have lower antioxidant levels. Higher plasma lycopene concentrations were linked to faster malaria parasite clearance, suggesting a role for antioxidants in malaria recovery.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional science
- Infectious disease research
- Malariology
Background:
- Antioxidant status is potentially linked to malaria pathogenesis.
- Further characterization of these factors in malaria is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma antioxidant concentrations in children with acute malaria.
- To determine the association between antioxidant status and malaria parasitemia clearance.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 273 children (1-10 years) with acute malaria in Uganda.
- Measured plasma vitamin A, carotenoids (including lycopene), and vitamin E at enrollment and day 7.
- Monitored malaria parasitemia at enrollment, day 3, and day 7.
Main Results:
- Plasma concentrations of vitamin A, carotenoids, and vitamin E were depressed at enrollment and increased by day 7.
- Malaria parasitemia cleared in 57.1% by day 3 and 85.3% by day 7.
- Higher plasma lycopene at enrollment correlated with faster parasitemia clearance (OR=1.46).
Conclusions:
- Children with acute malaria exhibit reduced plasma antioxidant levels.
- Elevated plasma lycopene is associated with more rapid clearance of malaria parasites.
- Antioxidants, particularly lycopene, may play a role in managing acute malaria.
Abstract:
Although antioxidant status has been implicated in the pathogenesis of malaria, these factors need further characterization. A longitudinal study was conducted involving 273 children 1-10 years of age with acute, uncomplicated malaria in Kampala, Uganda. Plasma vitamin A, carotenoids, and vitamin E were measured at enrollment and on day 7. Malaria parasitemia was measured at enrollment, on day 3, and on day 7. Malaria parasitemia had completely cleared in 57.1% and 85.3% of children by day 3 and day 7, respectively. Plasma vitamin A, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, and vitamin E were depressed at enrollment and increased by day 7. Multivariate analyses showed that higher plasma lycopene concentrations at enrollment were associated with clearance of parasitemia between enrollment and day 3 (odds ratio = 1.46, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-2.06, per 0.10 micromol/L of lycopene). This study suggests that children with acute malaria have depressed plasma concentrations of antioxidants, and that higher plasma lycopene is associated with more rapid clearance of malaria parasitemia.