Serum ascorbic acid concentration in patients with acute Falciparum malaria infection: possible significance

Abstract

Falciparum malaria infection is associated with significant destruction of erythrocytes. This leads to the release of toxic metabolic products, including oxidant compounds. We measured the serum concentration of the antioxidant, ascorbic acid, in 129 patients presenting with acute falciparum malaria infection and in 65 healthy individuals. None of the study subjects administered any form of ascorbic acid supplementation within one week prior to participation in this study. The mean serum ascorbate concentration in infected adult males (n = 49, age range 18-50 years) was found to be 2.02 +/- 0.20 mg/dL, and it was 2.03 +/- 0.24 mg/dL in infected adult females (n = 56, age range 18-50 years). These values were significantly greater than the serum ascorbate levels (1.54 +/- 0.10 mg/dL) in healthy adult males (n = 28) and females (n = 28) (p < 0.05). In children (age range 3 to 5 years), the serum ascorbate concentration was significantly lower (1.95 +/- 0.20 mg/dL) during infection (n = 25) than in their healthy counterparts (2.9 +/- 0.24 mg/dL, n = 9) (p < 0.05). It is evident therefore that ascorbic acid plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of acute falciparum malaria in adults. Infected children also need to be given supplemental doses of ascorbate in view of the weakness of their immune system.

Investigation of lipids profile with special reference to vitamin C in vivax malaria patients in region of Sargodha

“…The diseased cohort demonstrated significant reduction in concentrations of ascorbic acid in comparison to healthy controls (p<0.001). However work by Hassan et al [21] couldn't help, contradicting my outcomes. Their outcomes were as per the following.…”

Estimates of Total Analytical Error in Consumer and Hospital Glucose Meters Contributed by Hematocrit, Maltose, and Ascorbate

“…Ample evidence exists to demonstrate that hematocrit values in both hospitalized and ambulatory patients can deviate significantly from near-normal levels [16][17][18] and for variability in serum ascorbate levels. 19,20 When the glucose meters were assessed under more challenging conditions like 20% hematocrit and 0.29 mmol/liter ascorbate, the estimated total analytical error approached 30% for both consumer meters evaluated. In general, the hospital-grade meters (glucose oxidasebased technologies) tended to have less estimated analytical error than the consumer meters (PQQ glucose dehydrogenase-based technologies).…”

Antiplasmodial Efficacy of Crude Cocoa Powder Extract on CD4+ T-Cell Counts of &lt;i&gt;Plasmodium berghei&lt;/i&gt; Infected BALB/c Mice

“…Flavanols kaempferol, quercetin and isoquercetrin were screened for inhibitory effects on intraerythrocytic malaria parasites [16]. The complex polyphenols in human plasma following consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa [17,18] seem to be connected with less severe malaria [19] or more rapid clearance of parasitemia [20]. The complex polyphenols (procyanidins whose availability was once in doubt, have been detected in human plasma following consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa [5] seems to be connected with less severe malaria [17] or more rapid clearance of parasitemia [21].…”