Malarial parasites and antioxidant nutrients.
Susceptibility to oxidative stress is a well-established feature of the malarial parasite. Pharmacologists have taken advantage of this property to design highly effective pro-oxidant antimalarial drugs. Less well appreciated is the fact that nutritional manipulation of host oxidative stress status by dietary means can have a profound effect on the growth of the parasite. In particular, rapid induction of vitamin E deficiency in mice by feeding highly unsaturated fatty acids (fish oil) strongly suppresses plasmodial growth. Likewise, the status of other antioxidant nutrients (e.g., riboflavin or vitamin C) may also influence the course of malarial infection under certain conditions. A combined nutritional pharmacology approach may offer some promise in controlling malaria.
Levander
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Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maryland 20705-2350.
Ager
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D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D037621:Artemisinins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D008288:Malaria / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000276:immunology
D000962:Antimalarials; D000975:Antioxidants; D037621:Artemisinins; D004041:Dietary Fats; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C031327:artemisinin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D012256:Riboflavin