PMID: 9425377Jan 13, 1998Paper

Comparative effects of malaria and malnutrition on plasma concentrations of antioxidant micronutrients in children

Annals of Tropical Paediatrics
D A AdelekanD I Thurnham

Abstract

The comparative effects of malaria and malnutrition on plasma antioxidant vitamins were studied in 65 children aged 8-96 months. Forty-six (71%) of them had malaria; nineteen (29%) served as controls. Patients and controls were further subdivided into two groups depending on whether they were malnourished or well nourished, as defined by weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) +/- -2. Plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and retinol were measured. Results indicate that malaria was associated with levels of antioxidants lower than in the controls. Two-way analysis of variance shows that for all three plasma micronutrients concentrations were lower in those children infected with malaria but were not influenced by malnutrition. There were an equal number of malnourished children in both malaria and non-malaria groups; nevertheless, WAZ tended to be lower in those with malaria (p = 0.056), although this did not quite reach significance. It is concluded that in areas where malaria and malnutrition co-exist, malaria alone exerts a greater influence on plasma antioxidants than does malnutrition.

References

Feb 11, 1989·Lancet·D R BlakeJ Lunec
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Feb 1, 1984·Infection and Immunity·A O WozencraftJ H Playfair
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Mar 1, 1997·The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society·D I Thurnham
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Citations

Jun 12, 2002·Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·K A CooperD I Thurnham
Mar 1, 1997·The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society·D I Thurnham
Jan 6, 2007·Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition·Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta
Jun 15, 2007·Nutrition Reviews·Aimee L Webb, Eduardo Villamor
May 6, 2003·The Journal of Nutrition·Andrew Tomkins

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