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 .
Effects of acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria on body weight in children in an endemic area
The impacts of acute falciparum malaria  on body weight and the host and parasite factors predictive of change in body weight were characterized in 465 prospect ively studied children in an endemic area of southwest Nigeria . Pre-treatment weights were significantly lower than the 14 to 28-day post-treatment weights ( P = 0.0001 ) . In 187 children , fractional fall in body weight ( FFBW ) exceeded 4.9 % . FFBW correlated negatively with age and body weight ( P = 0.014 and 0.0001 , respectively ) , but not with enrolment parasitaemia . In a multiple regression model , an age ≤5 years ( AOR = 2.03 , 95 % CI 1.2–3.2 , P = 0.003 ) , a hematocrit ≤29 % ( AOR = 1.6 , 95 % CI 1.0–2.3 , P = 0.037 ) , and a body weight ≤9.6 kg ( AOR = 5.4 , 95 % CI 1.7–20 , P = 0.003 ) were independent predictors of FFBW ≥5 % at presentation . Children who , after initial clearance , had recurrence of their parasitaemia within 28 days had a significantly higher propensity not to gain weight than children who were aparasitaemic after treatment ( log-rank statistic 6.76 , df = 1 , P = 0.009 ) . These results indicate that acute malaria contribute to sub-optimal growth in young children and may have implication s for malaria control efforts in sub-Saharan Africa
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 .