Antioxidant Status of Children Infected with Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Kebbi Metropolis, Northwestern Nigeria

Malaria is a global life aggressive disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite to a host after infected anopheles mosquito leading to release of free radicals which have the capacity to induce oxidative stress. This study was carried out to assess the effect of malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) on some antioxidants (vitamins A, C, E and reduced glutathione) and lipid peroxidation marker (MDA) in children attending Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from untreated subjects upon confirmation of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia using the Rapid test kit (SD Bioline Malaria Ag P.f) method. One hundred and twelve consenting subjects (72 positive and 40 negative subjects) comprising of both sexes were randomly selected. Vitamin A was determined using a method of Bassey, et al. [1] while vitamins C and E using a method of Baker and Frank [2]. Reduced glutathione and MDA were determined using methods of Patterson and Lazarow [3] and Abubakar, et al. [4] respectively. Results were analysed using SPSS version 16.0 and significance between groups was ascertained using students' T-test. Result showed that level of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, C, & E) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in malarial positive subjects were significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared to control subjects. Similarly, lipid peroxidation marker (MDA) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in children with parasitaemia than in non-parasitaemia controls. The decrease in the levels of antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) and reduced glutathione (GSH) as observed may be due toneed of antioxidants to scavenge the free radicals caused by malarial infection.