title: Evidence of insulin resistance in adult uncomplicated malaria: result of a two-year prospective study.
abstract: The study aimed at investigating the effects of adult uncomplicated malaria on insulin resistance. Fasting levels of blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and serum insulin were measured in 100 diabetics and 100 age-matched controls before and during Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Insulin resistance and beta cell function were computed by homeostatic models assessment of insulin resistance (HOMAIR) and beta cell function (HOMAB) formulae, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) was computed. At baseline, diabetics had significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of BMI, FBG, HbA1c, and HOMAIR but lower level of HOMAB than controls. Baseline insulin levels were comparable (P > 0.05) between the two study groups. During malaria, diabetics maintained significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of BMI, FBG, and HbA1c but lower levels of insulin and HOMAB than controls. Malaria-induced HOMAIR levels were comparable (P > 0.05) between the two study groups but higher than baseline levels. Apart from BMI and HOMAB, mean levels of all the remaining parameters increased in malaria-infected controls. In malaria-infected diabetics, significant (P < 0.05) increase was only observed for insulin and HOMAIR but not the other measured parameters. Uncomplicated malaria increased insulin resistance in diabetics and controls independent of BMI. This finding may have implications for the evolution of T2DM in malaria-endemic regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acquah
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Johnson Nyarko
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Boampong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Benjamin Ackon
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Eghan Jnr
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana ; African Institute for Mathematical Science Ghana (AIMS-Ghana), P.O. Box LG 197, Legon-Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eriksson