title: Antioxidant activity in HIV and malaria co-infected subjects in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the antioxidant status of HIV and malaria co-infected participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples collected from the 193 randomly recruited participants were used for HIV screening, Plasmodium falciparum antigen screening, malaria parasite density count, CD4(+) T cell count, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant status measurement. Standard laboratory methods were used for the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant status and CD4(+) T cell count were significantly lowered in symptomatic HIV participants with and without malaria co-infection (P<0.01) in each case compared with control participants. Also, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidise, total antioxidant status and CD4(+) T cell count were significantly lowered in asymptomatic HIV participants with and without malaria co-infection (P<0.05) in each case, compared with control participants without malaria. Similarly, these antioxidants were significantly lowered in control participants with malaria infection (P<0.05) compared with control participants without malaria. The malaria parasite density in symptomatic HIV infected participants was negatively associated with glutathione reductase (r = -0.906, P<0.01), glutathione peroxidase (r = -0.719, P<0.01) and total antioxidant status (r = -0.824, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The antioxidant activity was affected in HIV infected participants with malaria co-infection. Malaria co-infection in HIV seems to exert additional burden on antioxidants. This calls for concern in malaria endemic areas with increasing prevalence of HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Immaculate Heart Hospital, Anambra State, Nigeria. srfaustina500@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Faustina Nkechi
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Osuji
authors.forename: Charles Chinedum
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Onyenekwe
authors.forename: Martins
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ifeanyichukwu
authors.forename: Joseph Ebere
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ahaneku
authors.forename: Micheal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ezeani
authors.forename: Ifeoma Pricilla
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Ezeugwunne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D059208:Parasite Load; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase