title: Relationship between carotenoids and anaemia during acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children.
abstract: A clinic-based cohort study in Kampala, Uganda, was conducted to examine the relationship between severe malarial anaemia and plasma micronutrients. Plasma carotenoids, retinol, vitamin E, and four trace metal concentrations were measured at enrollment and seven days later in 273 children, aged 1-10 year(s), with acute, uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Concentrations of plasma provitamin A carotenoids (p < 0.0001), non-provitamin A carotenoids (p < 0.0001), retinol (p < 0.0001), all four trace elements (all p < 0.001), and vitamin E (p < 0.0001) rose significantly by day 7 among children without severe anaemia (haemoglobin 70 g/L). There was no change in provitamin A carotenoids (p = 0.24) among children with severe anaemia (haemoglobin <70 g/L), whereas non-provitaminAcarotenoids (p < 0.0001), retinol (p < 0.0001), and vitamin E (p = 0.011) increased. These observations also support the hypothesis that the use of provitamin A carotenoids increases during malaria infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nussenblatt
authors.forename: Gelasius
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mukasa
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ndeezi
authors.forename: Ward
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eisinger
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Semba
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000469:parasitology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D014454:Uganda; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids