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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Evaluation of Extracellular Vesicle Function During Malaria Infection
Published on: February 14, 2018
[Changes in retinol, hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations in Colombian children with malaria]
Rosa Magdalena Uscátegui1, Adriana M Correa, Jaime Carmona-Fonseca
1Grupo de Investigación en Alimentación y Nutrición Humana, Escuela de Nutrici6n y Dietetica, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. rosauscategui@gmail.com
Insights
This study found that combining antimalarial treatment with retinol and anti-parasitic drugs improved hemoglobin levels in children. This intervention prevented a day 8 drop in hemoglobin, showing positive effects on malaria co-infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Nutritional immunology
- Malaria research
Background:
- Malaria, anemia, and intestinal parasites frequently co-occur in Colombian children.
- The impact of combined antimalarial, retinol, and anti-parasitic treatment on these conditions is not well understood.
- Changes in hemoglobin, retinol, ferritin, and C-reactive protein levels following such interventions have not been previously documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of simultaneous antimalarial, retinol supplementation, and anti-intestinal parasite treatment in children with malaria.
- To monitor changes in hemoglobin, ferritin, retinol, and C-reactive protein levels post-intervention.
Main Methods:
- A non-blind experimental study involving 93 children (aged 4-10 years) with malaria.
- Four treatment groups: antimalarial + retinol (MA), antimalarial + retinol + anti-parasitic (MAP), antimalarial + anti-parasitic (MP), and antimalarial only (M).
- Biomarkers (hemoglobin, ferritin, retinol, C-reactive protein) measured on days 0, 8, and 30.
Main Results:
- On day 30, hemoglobin and plasma retinol concentrations increased, while C-reactive protein and ferritin levels decreased.
- No statistically significant differences were observed among groups on day 30.
- On day 8, the MAP group showed significantly higher hemoglobin levels compared to other groups.
Conclusions:
- By day 30, hemoglobin and retinol levels were elevated, and C-reactive protein was reduced.
- The combined intervention (retinol + anti-parasitic) effectively prevented the initial reduction in hemoglobin observed on day 8.
- This suggests a beneficial role for simultaneous supplementation and treatment in managing malaria with co-infections.
Introduction:
Malaria, anemia and intestinal parasitism can co-exist in certain populations of Colombian children. The effects of retinol supplementation and anti-intestinal parasite treatment in children with malaria is unknown. Changes after this treatment of with respect to hemoglobin, retinol, ferritin and C reactive protein levels have not been previously monitored.
Objective:
The effect of simultaneous intervention with antimalarial, retinol supplementation and anti-intestinal parasites treatment will be monitored by examining levels of hemoglobin, ferritin, retinol and C reactive protein in children with malaria.
Materials And Methods:
A non-blind experimental study was conducted in 93 children with malaria, aged 4-10 years. Each was randomly allocated to one of the following groups: (1) treatment with antimalarial and retinol supplement (Group MA); (2) treatment with antimalarialretinol supplement and anti-parasitic drug (Group MAP); (3) treatment with antimalarial and antiparasitic drug (Group MP), and (4) treatment only with antimalarials (Group M). The groups were observed for 30 days, with haemoglobin, ferritin, retinol and C reactive protein evaluated on days 0, 8 and 30 after treatment.
Results:
Mean values for the children at day 0 were as follows: hemoglobin 10.3 +/- 1.6 g/dL, retinol 19.1 +/- 6.0 microg/dL, C reactive protein 75 +/- 63 mg/L and ferritin 213 +/- 203 microg/L. On day 30 after treatment, hemoglobin and plasma retinol concentrations increased in 1.4 +/- 1.4 g/dL and 11.5 +/- 8.1 microg/dL, whereas the C reactive protein and ferritin concentrations decreased to 66 +/- 60 mg/L, and 184 +/- 203 microg/L, respectively. No statistically significant differences appeared among the groups. On day 8, significant differences between the groups were observed in hemoglobin concentrations Group MAP was higher when compared to other groups.
Conclusion:
On day 30, hemoglobin and retinol were high, whereas C reactive protein was low. Simultaneous administration of a retinol supplement and anti-parasite treatment prevented hemoglobin reduction observed on day 8 without changes in other variables.
