Visceral plasma proteins, malaria and malnutrition in Colombian children

Abstract

Introduction: in Latin America and Colombia, there are few reports about links between malaria and nutritional status indicators.

Objective: to explore correlations between anthropometric and biochemical indicators of malnutrition.

Methodology: children (aged 4-11 years; residing either in El Bagre or in Turbo [Antioquia, Colombia]) participated in two different projects, with prospective, cross design. The first study worked with a sample of 100 children (aged 4-9 years), 51 with malaria and 49 without the disease.

The second study evaluated 93 children (aged 4-10 years) with malaria. They received treatment, were cured, and reexamined after a 30-day period, already without malaria. Two anthropometric indicators of long-term malnutrition (weight/age and height/age) were measured, as well as five visceral plasma proteins (albumin, prealbumin, apolipoprotein-A1, transferrin, ferritin), retinol, zinc, hemoglobin and C-reactive protein CRP.

Results: significant "r" coefficients were weak (r <0600), generally positive: a) In the presence of malaria: CPR with hemoglobin (negative) and ferritin; hemoglobina-ferritina (negative); Retinol with zinc and prealbumin; zinc with prealbumin and ferritin; apoA1 with albumin and transferrin, ferritin and prealbumin albumin; albumin and transferrin with zinc. b) In the absence of malaria: PCR with hemoglobin (negative), ferritin, retinol (negative) and apoA1 (negative); Retinol with hemoglobin, zinc and prealbumin; zinc-prealbumin; apoA1-albúmina; prealbumin with albumin and transferrin.

The only significant correlations between anthropometric and biochemical indicators were the following: a) height / age with transferrin (negative) in the presence of malaria and with apolipoproteínA1 (negative) in the absence of malaria (both p <0.10), b) weight / age with apolipoprotenA1: negative in the presence of malaria, positive in the absence of malaria (both p <0.05).

Conclusion: there were several significant correlations between biochemical indicators and virtually none between anthropometric and biochemical indicators.