| Vitamin A supplements, routine immunization, and the subsequent risk of Plasmodium infection among children under 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa |
| Authors: |
Hollm-Delgado MG, Piel FB, Weiss DJ, Howes RE, Stuart EA, Hay SI, and Black RE |
| Source: |
eLife Sciences , 4:e03925; doi: 10.7554/eLife.03925. |
| Topic(s): |
Child health
Children under five
Immunization
Vitamin A
|
| Country: |
Africa
Multiple African Countries
|
| Published: |
FEB 2015 |
| Abstract: |
Recent studies, partly based on murine models, suggest childhood immunization and vitamin A supplements may confer protection against malaria infection, although strong evidence to support these theories in humans has so far been lacking. We analyzed national survey data from children aged 6-59 months in four sub-Saharan African countries over an 18-month time period, to determine the risk of Plasmodium spp. parasitemia (n=8390) and Plasmodium falciparum HRP-2 (PfHRP-2)-related antigenemia (n=6121) following vitamin A supplementation and standard vaccination. Bacille Calmette Guerin-vaccinated children were more likely to be PfHRP-2 positive (relative risk [RR]=4.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.00-8.28). No association was identified with parasitemia. Measles and polio vaccination were not associated with malaria. Children receiving vitamin A were less likely to present with parasitemia (RR=0.46, 95% CI=0.39-0.54) and antigenemia (RR=0.23, 95% CI=0.17-0.29). Future studies focusing on climate seasonality, placental malaria and HIV are needed to characterize better the association between vitamin A and malaria infection in different settings. |
| Web: |
https://elife-publishing-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/03925/elife-03925-v1-download.pdf |
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