Conclusions This systematic review found that most of the evidence associating malaria and malnutrition comes from P. falciparum endemic areas , with a significant heterogeneity in studies ’ design .
Apparently malnutrition has not a great impact on malaria morbidity , but could have a negative impact on malaria mortality and severity .
Most studies show no association between malaria and subsequent malnutrition in P. falciparum areas .
In Plasmodium vivax endemic areas , malaria was associated with malnutrition in children .
Background Multiple studies in various parts of the world have analysed the association of nutritional status on malaria using anthropometric measures , but results differ due to the heterogeneity of the study population , species of the parasite , and other factors involved in the host and parasite relationship .
The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review on the inter-relationship of nutritional status based on anthropometry and malarial infection .
REFEEDING-MALARIA AND HYPERFERRÆMIA
During the Central African ( Sahelian ) drought , attacks of falciparum malaria were common in patients and their relatives shortly after their arrival in a hospital in Eastern Niger . A prospect i ve study of 72 adult patients not admitted for malaria and 109 accompanying relatives was undertaken to investigate this observation . 23 attacks occurred in patients and 51 in relatives , with a peak frequency five days after arrival . On arrival , parasitaemia was low but reached a maximum by five days . Serum-iron and percentage saturation of transferrin were moderately increased initially , rose dramatically within forty-eight hours with near maximum saturation , and were falling by the fifth day . It is suggested that the early hyperferraemia , apparently related to refeeding , led to rapid multiplication of existing parasites and attacks of malaria . The results of experimental malarial infection of Wistar rats , half of which had been given intramuscular iron , supported this hypothesis
Conclusions This systematic review found that most of the evidence associating malaria and malnutrition comes from P. falciparum endemic areas , with a significant heterogeneity in studies ’ design .
Apparently malnutrition has not a great impact on malaria morbidity , but could have a negative impact on malaria mortality and severity .
Most studies show no association between malaria and subsequent malnutrition in P. falciparum areas .
In Plasmodium vivax endemic areas , malaria was associated with malnutrition in children .
Background Multiple studies in various parts of the world have analysed the association of nutritional status on malaria using anthropometric measures , but results differ due to the heterogeneity of the study population , species of the parasite , and other factors involved in the host and parasite relationship .
The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review on the inter-relationship of nutritional status based on anthropometry and malarial infection .