Low serum vitamin A is prevalent in underfive children with severe malaria and is associated with increased risk of death.

Autor: Lawal OA; Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. bumsylaw@yahoo.com., Adegoke SA; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. adegoke2samade@yahoo.com., Oseni SB; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. sbaoseni@gmail.com., Oyelami OA; oyekuoyelami@gmail.com.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of infection in developing countries [J Infect Dev Ctries] 2018 May 31; Vol. 12 (5), pp. 365-372. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 May 31.
DOI: 10.3855/jidc.9572
Abstrakt: Introduction: Micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in developing countries and may influence vulnerability to diseases particularly malaria and its severity. This study investigated serum vitamin A profile of under-five children with severe malaria (SM) in South-western, Nigeria and to determine its association with degree of malaria parasitaemia, types of SM and eventual outcome.
Methodology: Using HPLC, serum vitamin A concentrations of 170 under-five children with SM and 170 age- and gender-matched controls were determined. Parasite species identification and density were also determined. Association between serum vitamin A levels and the degree of parasitaemia, type of SM and patients' outcome were examined by both bivariate and logistic regression analyses.
Results: Thirty-five (20.6%) of the children with SM compared with 3 (1.8%) of the controls had hypovitaminosis A, p <0.001, OR = 14.4, 95% Confidence Interval = 4.4 - 47.8. The mean serum vitamin A concentration was also lower in the patients (45.23µg/dL vs. 87.28µg/dL; p <0.001). There was inverse correlation between serum vitamin A levels and malaria parasite density (r = - 0.103, p = 0.027). Higher proportions of children with SM and hypovitaminosis A presented with metabolic acidosis and cerebral malaria (p <0.001 and 0.032 respectively). Children with SM and hypovitaminosis A were 9.1 times more likely to die compared to those without low serum vitamin A levels, OR = 9.1, 95% Confidence Interval = 2.2-38.1, p = 0.002.
Conclusion: Children with SM had reduced serum vitamin A and significantly contributed to increased morbidity and mortality.
Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared
(Copyright (c) 2018 Olubunmi Adeola Lawal, Samuel Ademola Adegoke, Saheed Babatunde Oseni, Oyeku A. Oyelami.)
Databáze: MEDLINE