COMPARISON OF METHODS EVALUATING LIPOPEROXIDATION IN PLASMA OF MALARIA PATIENTS

Lipid peroxidation is believed to be involved in malaria and plasma of malaria patients may be damaged by reactive oxygen species This study compares determinations of malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamins A and E by high performance liquid chromatography, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA-RS) by fluorometric analysis and fatty acids;by gas ch romatography. During malarial infection, polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA), vitamins A and E decreased significantly when TBA-RS increased significantly. However, there was no significant change in total or MD A bound to amino-groups. On the other hand, there was no correlation b etween TBA-RS production and PUFA decrease or between TBA-RS productio n and vitamin A or E consumption. These results support the concept th at other compounds such as proteins and cholesterol may be involved in the formation of these TBA-RS.