Airen Oziegbe Johnson, Emokpae Loveth Amenaghawon, Omoruyi Zainab, Emokpae Mathias Abiodun
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Afr Health Sci. 2024 Jun;24(2):152-159. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v24i2.18.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: A high calcium-to-magnesium ratio above 2:1 has been associated with higher risk of metabolic, inflammation and cardiovascular disorders. This study evaluates the serum levels of iron, magnesium, calcium, folate, vitamin B12 and calcium to magnesium ratio in children with uncomplicated malaria infection.
Measured nutritional parameters were determined in 300 children (100 males and 100 females) with malaria infection and 100 children (50 males and 50 females) without malaria infection using Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay and spectrophotometric methods.
Significantly lower (p<0.001) levels of serum magnesium, iron, vitamin B12, folate and Packed cell volume (p<0.03) were observed among children with malaria than controls. On the other hand, serum calcium (8.45±0.20) and calcium-to-magnesium ratio (3.9:1.0) (were significantly higher (p<0.001) in malaria infected children than controls. Calcium to magnesium ratio correlated (r=0.188; p<0.01) with malaria parasitaemia.
Higher serum calcium-to-magnesium ratio above the recommended 2.1 may contribute to increase risk of morbidity and mortality. Nutritional intervention aimed at lowering the ca/mg ratio may be essential in the management of malaria infection in Children.
背景/目的：钙镁比高于2:1与代谢、炎症及心血管疾病的较高风险相关。本研究评估单纯性疟疾感染儿童的血清铁、镁、钙、叶酸、维生素B12水平及钙镁比。
采用酶联免疫吸附测定法和分光光度法，对300名疟疾感染儿童（100名男性和100名女性）和100名未感染疟疾的儿童（50名男性和50名女性）的营养参数进行测定。
疟疾感染儿童的血清镁、铁、维生素B12、叶酸水平及红细胞压积显著低于对照组（p<0.001）（p<0.03）。另一方面，疟疾感染儿童的血清钙（8.45±0.20）和钙镁比（3.9:1.0）显著高于对照组（p<0.001）。钙镁比与疟疾寄生虫血症相关（r=0.188；p<0.01）。
高于推荐值2.1的血清钙镁比可能会增加发病和死亡风险。针对降低钙/镁比的营养干预可能对儿童疟疾感染的管理至关重要。
