Abstract
Background
This is a cross-sectional study with the objective to analyze lipid parameters of individuals living in Brazilian Amazon, where malaria is endemic.
Methods
The city chosen was Anajás in the state of Pará, Brazil, in Amazon region. The study analyzed lipid parameters of 46 subjects, 31 male and 15 female, aged between 20–60 years without malaria, and residents for more than five years in this city considered an area hyperendemic for disease. It was established three groups according to the number of previous episodes of malaria: group I (n = 22) one to five episodes, group II (n = 20) six to ten episodes and group III (n = 4) eleven to fifteen episodes. Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol), and low density lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol) were measured and was confected the thick smear for malaria of all individuals.
Results
The hypocholesterolemia, the main characteristic of hyperendemic areas for malaria, was confirmed, but the mean of HDL cholesterol levels were 9.78% higher than the reference of World Health Organization.
Conclusion
Although other factors might have contributed to lipid profile, the constant exposure to infection by Plasmodium, according to the physiology of the parasite, may have played an important role in defining the lipid parameters observed for this region. Further studies, such as the case–control is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Keywords: Malaria, Cholesterol, Plasmodium
Background
Malaria is recognized as a serious public health problem worldwide, affecting nearly 50% of the population in more than 109 countries. Its estimated 300 million new cases and 1 million deaths per year, mostly in children under 5 years and pregnant women in Africa [1]. The Amazon region is considered the country’s endemic area for malaria. In 2008 in Brazil, approximately 99% of malaria cases were concentrated in six states of the Amazon: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia and Roraima. This risk is measured by the annual parasite incidence (API), used to classify the areas of transmission in high, medium and low risk according to the number of cases per thousand inhabitants [2].
Cholesterol is obtained by means of cellular synthesis and about 70% is endogenous, from diet we have the exogenous cholesterol about 30% [3]. Studies have shown low levels of lipoproteins such as total cholesterol and your fractions, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in patients suffering of parasitic infection caused by Plasmodium[4]. In vitro studies have shown that independent of species, HDL cholesterol, is an essential source for the complete development of the malaria parasite (erythrocytic cycle) [5-7].
By the nature of cholesterol synthesis and physiology of the malaria parasite, the objective of this study were to assess the impact of malaria on lipid parameters of individuals living in an area considered hyperendemic in an association with the numbers of previous episodes of malaria.
Materials and methods
The research site was the city of Anajás located in Pará, Brazil, Brazilian Amazon. Considered hyperendemic for the disease (API 57.7) situated in a microregion called Furo de Breves, mesoregion Marajó Island [8]. The study was a cross-sectional, the sample was chosen for convenience and approved by Committee of ethics in research with human of Instituto Evandro Chagas, protocol CEP/IEC – Nº 028/2010 CAAE: 0031.0.072.000-10. Were selected for the study 46 individuals, 31 male and 15 female, aged 20–60 years, without malaria but with a history of clinical disease and residents for more than five years in this city. It was established three groups according to the number of previous episodes of malaria: group I (n = 22) one to five episodes, group II (n = 20) six to ten episodes and group III (n = 4) eleven to fifteen episodes. Being measured the total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, from the serum samples collected of 10 ml of venous blood per individuals. For tests were employed commercial kits (ROCHE®) and clinical chemistry analyzer (COBAS INTEGRA 400®) following the manufacturer protocols and for the diagnosis of malaria disease was used the technique of thick smear [9].
Results
The mean of total cholesterol in the group I was 194.54 mg / dl, the group II of 181.90 mg / dl, and for the group III 154, 50 mg / dl. In LDL cholesterol, we found an average of 121.18 mg / dl for the group I, 103.70 mg / dl for the group II and 94.00 mg / dl for the group III. Analyzing the HDL cholesterol levels of patients according to the past of malaria, we found an average of 45.72 mg / dl for the group I, group II in the average was 51.00 mg / dl and the group III 51.35 mg / dl. As the analysis of the three groups of triglycerides, showed an average of 147.82 mg / dl for the first group of 149.55 mg / dl for the second group and 158.00 mg / dl for the third group as shown in Table 1. Using the Spearman linear correlation to HDL cholesterol with past malaria, we obtained a positive correlation (rs= 0.2838, p = 0.055), indicating that the more episodes of malaria, higher levels of HDL cholesterol in study subjects, and a negative correlation (rs = - 0.1945, P = 0.1950) this time to LDL cholesterol, indicating that the more episodes of malaria smaller amount of LDL cholesterol in subjects of research, as shown in Figure 1.
Table 1.
Variables |
group I |
group II |
group III |
---|---|---|---|
(n = 22) | (n = 20) | (n = 4) | |
Total Cholesterol | |||
Average |
194.54 mg/dL |
181.90 mg/dL |
154.50 mg/dL |
Cholesterol HDL | |||
Average |
45.72 mg/dL |
51.00 mg/dL |
51.35 mg/dL |
Cholesterol LDL | |||
Average |
121.18 mg/dL |
103.70 mg/dL |
94.00 mg/dL |
Triglycerides | |||
Average | 147.82 mg/dL | 149.55 mg/dL | 158.00 mg/dL |
Conclusion
The hypocholesterolemia, the main characteristic of hyperendemic areas for malaria, was confirmed, but the mean HDL cholesterol levels were 9.78% higher than the reference of World Health Organization. Although other factors might have contributed to lipid profile, the constant exposure to infection by Plasmodium, according to the physiology of the parasite, may have played an important role in defining the lipid parameters observed for this region. Further studies, such as the case–control is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Abbreviations
API: Annual parasite incidence; HDL: High density lipoprotein; LDL: Low density lipoprotein.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors’ contributions
FRN conceived the study, designed the study protocol and wrote the manuscript; RFL held clinical evaluation and performed the analysis and interpretation of data; AMV and MGF performed biochemical tests and exams thick smear and reviewed manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Contributor Information
Frederico AR Neves, Email: fredericoneves@iec.pa.gov.br.
Ana MRS Ventura, Email: ana_mariaventura@hotmail.com.
Manoel GS Filho, Email: manoelgomes@iec.pa.gov.br.
Rosana MF Libonati, Email: fe_any@terra.com.br.
Acknowledgment
This study was funded by the Instituto Evandro Chagas. I would like to thank the section of Biochemistry of Instituto Evandro Chagas, and a special tribute to a great friend Juciclayton Tavares de Souza (In memoriam).
References
- World Health Organization. World malaria report. Geneva; 2011. [ http://www.who.int/malaria/publications/atoz/9789241564403/en/index.html] [Google Scholar]
- Portal da Saúde, MS/SIVEP/SUS. http://portalweb04.saude.gov.br/sivep_malaria/default.asp]
- Bemben DA, Bemben MG. Effects of resistance exercise and body mass index on lipoprotein–lipid patterns of postmenopausal women. J Strength Cond Res. 2000;14:80–85. [Google Scholar]
- Grellier P, Rigomier D, Clavey V. Lipid traffic between high density lipoproteins and Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells. J Cell Biol. 1991;112:267–277. doi: 10.1083/jcb.112.2.267. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Faucher JF, Milama EN, Missinou MA. et al. The impact of malaria on common lipid parameters. Parasitol Res. 2002;88:1040–1043. doi: 10.1007/s00436-002-0712-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Das BS, Thurnham DI, Das DB. Plasma α-tocopherol, retinol, and carotenoids in children with falciparum malaria. Am J Clin Nutr. 1996;64:94–100. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/64.1.94. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mohanty S, Mishra SK, Das BS. et al. Altered plasma lipid pattern in falciparum malaria. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1992;86:601–606. doi: 10.1080/00034983.1992.11812715. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Silva VLC. Primeiro boletim epidemiológico sobre a malária no Município de Anajás. Anajás, PA: Ilha do Marajó – PA; 2011. [Google Scholar]
- Antuñano FJL. Diagnostico de Malaria. Washington: Organización Panamericana de la Salud; 1988b. Diagnostico microscópico en la sangre - preparación de muestras en gota gruesa; pp. 78–86b. [Google Scholar]