The Effect of Acute <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> Infection on the levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Ascorbic acid on Nigerian Children

Abstract

The effect of acute plasmodium falciparum infection on the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and ascorbic acid (AA) were studied in 200 children infested with malaria between the ages of 0.5 – 5 years with a male to female ratio of 3:1. Healthy children (n = 200) matched for age and sex ratio served as control. MDA content was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the plasma of malarias children (13.88 ± 1.02 µmol/mℓ) compared to the control (8.71 + 0.62 mmol/mℓ). However, AA level showed an opposite response: malarias children (87.41 + 3.43 mmol/mℓ) and control (122.07 + 6.36 mmol/mℓ). These results were also highly significant (P < 0.01). Also a negative correlation (r = -0.525) was observed between these two parameters in the malarias children against a positive correlation (r = 0.533) in the control. These opposite responses in the level of lipid peroxidation and ascorbic acid may in part account for the general tissue damage associated with the pathology of malaria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Vol. 7(2) 2003:59-61