Antioxidant status and acute malaria in children in Kampala, Uganda

Although antioxidant status has been implicated in the pathogenesis of mala ria, these factors need further characterization. A longitudinal study was conducted involving 273 children 1-10 years of age with acute, uncomplicate d malaria in Kampala, Uganda. Plasma vitamin A, carotenoids, and vitamin E were measured at enrollment and on day 7. Malaria parasitemia was measured at enrollment, on day 3, and on day 7. Malaria parasitemia had completely c leared in 57.1% and 85.3% of children by day 3 and day 7, respectively. Pla sma vitamin A, alpha -carotene, beta -carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin , and vitamin E were depressed at enrollment and increased by day 7. Multiv ariate analyses showed that higher plasma lycopene concentrations at enroll ment were associated with clearance of parasitemia between enrollment and d ay 3 (odds ratio = 1.46, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-2.06, per 0.10 mu m ol/L of lycopene). This study suggests that children with acute malaria hav e depressed plasma concentrations of antioxidants, and that higher plasma l ycopene is associated with more rapid clearance of malaria parasitemia.