ascorbic-acid and Malaria--Vivax

Plasmodium vivax infection in humans can relapse and is associated with iron deficiency. The immune response plays an important role in preventing relapse. In this study we analyzed the effect of zinc and vitamin C supplementation on hemoglobin and hematocrit levels and immune response in patients with P. vivax malaria. We measured immune response by examining interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels. Subjects were divided into either treatment or control groups. The treatment group received daily zinc and vitamin C supplementation for 45 days. Compliance with supplement consumption was recorded weekly. After 45 days of supplementation, IFN-gamma and IL-1 levels were remeasured. All study subjects in both groups had normal hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. The hemoglobin levels increased only in the supplementation group (p=0.011), while hematocrit levels increased in both the supplementation (p=0.001) and control (p=0.023) groups. IFN-gamma decreased slightly in the supplementation group, but the change was not significant (p=0.688). IL-10 increased slightly in both the supplementation and the control groups, but the change were not significant (p=0.421 and p=0.556, respectively), suggesting the elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were unrelated to immune response.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Body Mass Index; Dietary Supplements; Female; Hematocrit; Hemoglobins; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-10; Malaria, Vivax; Male; Middle Aged; Zinc

Present investigations focused on the antioxidant defense in malaria caused by plasmodium Falciparum and plasmodium Vivax the mean±SEM values of Vitamin C, Vitamin E and GSH very highly significantly decreased as compared with normal individuals in both malaria species which cause malaria disease. The antioxidant levels in female were decreased very significantly due to decreased levels of antioxidant as compared with the male patients. The results are shown as mean±SME, the antioxidant levels in malarial patients was compared with normal individuals, in both genders. The antioxidant levels of vitamin C, Vitamin E and glutathione decreased in malaria caused by both species, a much greater decrease in patients infected by Plasmodium Vivax. P>001 was considered significant. The decrease of antioxidant levels was higher in female patients as compared with male patients. Antioxidant supplements like Vitamin C, Vitamin E and GHS may be used with anti malarial therapy,as a preventive measure because malaria affects the secondary antioxidant defense system of the body.

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Female; Glutathione; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Male; Middle Aged; Vitamin E

The protection of Plasmodium vivax-parasitized red blood cells (PRBCs) against activated forms of oxygen was examined in relation to the non-parasitized and chloroquine-treated red blood cells. Increased parasitaemia was found to be accompanied with a decrease in the activities of enzymes of the glutathione system, namely glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRx) and glutathione S-transferase (GTr) in the red blood cells (RBC) lysates. In contrast, however, the total amount of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the content of water-soluble antioxidant vitamin C was increased 2-3 fold over those of control RBCs. Chloroquine-treated red cells contained enzyme activities and antioxidant contents (GSH, vitamin C) comparable to those of control and non-parasitized red cells. Our results therefore indicate the oxidative stress experienced by RBCs during P. vivax infection and that this infection is accompanied with changes in the antioxidant defence system of the host, which are restored to near normal levels after treatment with chloroquine.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Chloroquine; Erythrocytes; Glutathione; Glutathione Peroxidase; Glutathione Reductase; Glutathione Transferase; Humans; Malaria, Vivax; Plasmodium vivax; Reactive Oxygen Species