Malaria is associated with reduced serum retinol levels in rural Zambian children

Vitamin A deficiency increases the risk of illness, while infections impair vitamin A status. Malaria is highly prevalent in rural Zambia. We describe the relationship between malaria and vitamin A status. We examined dietary vitamin A intake, malaria parasitaemia and serum concentrations of retinol , C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) in 210 chil dren under the age of 2. Vitamin A intake was low. Serum retinol was negati vely correlated with malaria parasite count and to serum levels of CRP and AGP. Increased malaria parasite density resulted in raised CRP and AGP leve ls, which were negatively associated with serum retinol. We conclude that i mprovement of dietary vitamin A intake and prevention of infectious disease s, especially malaria, could alleviate vitamin A deficiency in this populat ion.