Iron overload in BALB/c mice by treatment with ferric ammonium citrate
promotes the hepatic development of Plasmodium yoelii in vivo and in
vitro. This was the result of increased penetration of the parasite in
to hepatocytes since no effect was observed on parasite transformation
or maturation. These results could explain why in endemic regions iro
n supplementation led, in certain studies, to an increase in clinical
episodes of malaria and in the prevalence of malaria infection.