Diatta A, CissÃÆé F,TraorÃÆé S, Ndiaye B KaÃÆïmba LC, Diallo F, Sarr GN, Sall ND, TourÃÆé M
Vitamin A deficiency and malaria are a serious public health problem in Africa. Both conditions form a vicious circle in which vitamin A deficiency is frequently found in children suffering from malaria. However, the anterior or secondary character of vitamin deficiency in relation to malaria infection is still unknown. To unmask the isolated negative effect of malaria on retinol plasma level, in this study we have correlated vitamin depletion and malaria infection in children who previously received effective vitamin A supplementation. The results of the HPLC analysis of retinol serum levels indicate vitamin A significantly lower in malaria patients compared to those with negative thick blood smear (p = 0.004). In addition, the rates appeared relatively lower in the age group between 12 and 35 months (p <10-5), more in female subjects compared to those of males (p = 0.04).Together, these results indicate the interest in combining malaria control and protection against vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. Vitamin supplementation could then target vulnerable populations and more during periods of high malaria endemicity.
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