Oxidative stress and anti-oxidants in asymptomatic malaria-positive patients: a hospital-based cross-sectional Nigerian study

Abstract

Asymptomatic malaria is a threat to malaria eradication program. Host-related factors (e.g., immunity, oxidative stress, anti-oxidants activities) associated with asymptomatic malaria remain a gray area in research. This study seeks to determine the serum level of oxidative stress and anti-oxidants in 130 symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with different intensities of malaria parasite infection from a hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria. The prevalence of infection was 48.5% among the respondents. Most of the patients with parasitemia were asymptomatic (64.7%). The mean titer value of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) among those with malaria infection (6.05 ± 0.60) compared with those who tested negative for malaria parasites (2.38 ± 0.28). Furthermore, the mean titer value of MDA was significantly higher (p < 0.05) among patients who showed symptoms of malaria (5.49 ± 0.77) compared with those without symptoms (2.93 ± 0.47). A strong positive relationship existed between MDA (r = 0.717, p < 0.05), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (r = 0.695, p < 0.05), and density of infection. On the other hand, a weak negative correlation existed between intensity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (r = − 0.115, p > 0.05) and glutathione (GSH) (r = − 0.278, p > 0.05). The level of SOD and GSH also decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with an increase in MDA level. This study showed that lipid peroxidation did not only increase in positive patients, it also rises in patients with clinical symptoms of malaria. Furthermore, a similar level of anti-oxidant responses was observed in both symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria patients. There is a need to inform health policies that encourage routine diagnosis and treatment of malaria in apparently healthy people if the malaria elimination goal is to be achieved in Africa.