title: Hypoglycemia in falciparum malaria: is fasting an unrecognized and insufficiently emphasized risk factor?
abstract: Hypoglycemia is a frequently encountered complication in falciparum malaria that is usually ascribed to increased glucose use and impaired glucose production caused by the inhibition of gluconeogenesis. Here, in light of recent data showing that glucose production and gluconeogenesis are often increased in falciparum malaria, we review the causes and the risk factors leading to hypoglycemia in malaria. Fasting emerges as an important potential risk factor. Length of fasting should be included in studies on hypoglycemia in malaria. Full recognition of this risk factor for hypoglycemia in malaria could change both advice to the population, especially mothers, and treatment guidelines in the health sector.
authors.affiliation: Bao Loc General Hospital, Bao Loc, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Huynh V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Thien
authors.forename: Piet A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kager
authors.forename: Hans P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Sauerwein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005215:Fasting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005943:Gluconeogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose