ABSTRACT

Malaria is an endemic parasitic disease that prevails particularly in warm tropical regions of the world.

Micronutrient malnutrition such as vitamin A and iron deficiencies which is a public health problem in Nigeria. It is usually highly prevalent in malaria endemic areas.  Characterizing the relationship between micronutrient status (vitamin A and Zinc) and malaria infection among children in Okolobiri town (Nigeria), serum levels of zinc, and Vitamin A, were assayed in a total of 144 Nigerian children ( 60 controls and 84 malaria patients infected by plasmodium falciparum) less than six years old by colorimetric and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques respectively showed a significantly lower vitamin A (P  <  0.01) among malaria patients ().08 ± 0.04µmol/1 and 81.0 ± 23.7 mg/1) as compared to the controls ( 1.1 ± 0.06 µmol/1 and 96.3 ± 16.7 mg/ml). Vitamin A, Zinc status were lower in 51.85% and 27.27% of malaria patients respectively. Significant correlations (P < 0.01) were observed when the following parameters were coupled: Vitamin A/zinc among infected children (r = 0.01), and vitamin A and zinc among uninfected children (r= 0.415).