Micronutrient Deficiencies and Plasmodium vivax Malaria among Children in the Brazilian Amazon

• Authors: Silvana Gomes Benzecry, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; Márcia Almeida Alexandre, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; Sheila Vítor-Silva, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; Jorge Salinas, Emory University; Gisely Cardoso de Melo, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; Helyde Albuquerque Marinho, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia; Ângela Tavares Paes, Federal University of São Paulo; André Machado de Siqueira, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; Marcus Vinícius Guimarães Lacerda, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; Heitor Pons Leite, Federal University of São Paulo
• Journal Title: PLoS ONE
• Volume: Volume 11, Number 3
• Publisher: Public Library of Science | 2016-03-10, Pages e0151019-e0151019
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151019
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Nutrition
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Science & Technology - Other Topics; PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL; PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA; ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION; NUTRITIONAL-STATUS; RANDOMIZED-TRIAL; PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN; FALCIPARUM-MALARIA; YOUNG-CHILDREN; Malaria; Micronutrient deficiencies; Plasmodium; Vitamin A; Iron deficiency; Children; Intestinal parasites; Hemoglobin

Abstract

Background There is a growing body of evidence linking micronutrient deficiencies and malaria incidence arising mostly from P. falciparum endemic areas. We assessed the impact of micronutrient deficiencies on malaria incidence and vice versa in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Methodology/Principal Findings We evaluated children <10 years old living in rural communities in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, from May 2010 to May 2011. All children were assessed for sociodemographic, anthropometric and laboratory parameters, including vitamin A, beta-carotene, zinc and iron serum levels at the beginning of the study (May 2010) and one year later (May 2011). Children were followed in between using passive surveillance for detection of symptomatic malaria. Those living in the study area at the completion of the observation period were reassessed for micronutrient levels. Univariate Cox-proportional Hazards models were used to assess whether micronutrient deficiencies had an impact on time to first P. vivax malaria episode. We included 95 children median age 4.8 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.3-6.6), mostly males (60.0%) and with high maternal illiteracy (72.6%). Vitamin A deficiencies were found in 36% of children, beta-carotene deficiency in 63%, zinc deficiency in 61% and iron deficiency in 51%. Most children (80%) had at least one intestinal parasite. During follow-up, 16 cases of vivax malaria were diagnosed amongst 13 individuals. Micronutrient deficiencies were not associated with increased malaria incidence: vitamin A deficiency [Hazard ratio (HR): 1.51; P-value: 0.45]; beta-carotene [HR: 0.47; P-value: 0.19]; zinc [HR: 1.41; P-value: 0.57] and iron [HR: 2.31; P-value: 0.16]). Upon reevaluation, children with al least one episode of malaria did not present significant changes in micronutrient levels. Conclusion Micronutrient serum levels were not associated with a higher malaria incidence nor the malaria episode influenced micronutrient levels. Future studies targeting larger populations to assess micronutrients levels in P. vivax endemic areas are warranted in order to validate these results.