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 .
Developmental effects of micronutrient supplementation and malaria in Zanzibari children.
BACKGROUND Children 's development is affected by the interplay of internal and external factors and changes in one factor can precipitate changes in multiple developmental domains . AIMS The aim of this study was to test a theoretical model of children 's development using structural equation modeling . STUDY DESIGN This was design ed as a sub study of a r and omized , placebo-controlled , 2 × 2 factorial trial of the effects of daily supplementation with iron ( 12.5 mg ) + folic acid ( 50 μg ) ( FeFA ) with or without zinc ( 10 mg ) ( Zn ) on child mortality . SUBJECTS Zanzibari children aged 5 - 9 mo ( n = 106 ) and 10 - 14 mo ( n = 141 ) at baseline were included in this sub study . OUTCOME MEASURES Longitudinal data on children 's hemoglobin , growth , malaria infection , motor development , motor activity , and language development and caregiver behavior were used to test the fit of the theoretical model for two age groups and to examine the direct and indirect relationships among the variables in the model . RESULTS The theoretical models were a good fit to the data for both age groups and revealed that FeFA with or without Zn had positive effects on motor development . FeFA alone had negative effects on language development in both age groups and Zn alone had negative effects on language development in children aged 10 - 14 mo . The incidence of malaria had negative effects on the majority of health and development outcomes in children aged 5 - 9 mo , and on motor development and hemoglobin in children aged 10 - 14 mo . CONCLUSIONS These findings illustrate how nutrition and health factors can affect different domains of development and how these changes can precipitate changes in other domains . More work is needed to better underst and the multiple impacts of internal and external factors on children 's development and how changes in developmental domains interact with each other over time to determine children 's overall developmental trajectory . The r and omized , placebo-controlled study was registered as an International St and ard R and omized Controlled Trial , number IS RCT N59549825
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 .