Abstract
Malaria is the most common tropical disease to which infants and children are the
most susceptible. It is caused by Plasmodium species and is associated with oxidative stress, which has an effect on body antioxidants.
The relationship between the degree of parasitemia and copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and
uric acid was evaluated in this study.
Seventy children (mean age: 7.80 ± 0.38 years) microscopically diagnosed positive
for malaria parasite were selected. Fifty-six apparently healthy children (mean age:
6.68 ± 0.48 years) served as the control group. The malaria group was classified into
pretreatment and posttreatment groups. The pretreatment group was also subgrouped
based on parasitemia into four as follows: group A, group B, group C, and group D.
Serum Cu and Zn were studied. Uric acid, an abundant endogenous metabolic antioxidant,
was also determined.
The serum levels of Cu and Zn were significantly lower in pretreatment malaria patients
compared with control. Uric acid level was slightly raised in the malaria patients
but not significant (p > 0.05). In the posttreatment malaria patient group, serum uric acid and Cu levels
were significantly raised compared with control (p = 0.008). Also, serum Cu and uric acid were significantly higher in the malaria posttreatment
compared with the pretreatment group. Serum Zn level though higher in the posttreatment
group compared with the pretreatment group was not significantly different (p > 0.05). The result showed a negative correlation between serum Cu level and parasitemia,
and serum Zn level and parasitemia while that of uric acid and parasitemia was positively
correlated but none of these were significantly correlated with parasitemia.
The observed changes in Cu, Zn, and uric acid levels in this study could be a reflection
of progressive upregulation of the antioxidant system to combat the associated oxidative
stress in this condition.
Keywords
antioxidant - children - free radicals - malaria parasitemia - oxidative stress
