Relationship between carotenoids and anaemia during acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children.
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.
Nussenblatt
Veronique
V
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Mukasa
Gelasius
G
Metzger
Amy
A
Ndeezi
Grace
G
Eisinger
Ward
W
Semba
Richard D
RD
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*
D014131:Trace Elements; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids