The detrimental effect of Vitamin E on malaria infections is well known, the one of Vitamin C to a lesser extent. The malaria belt of the world (tropical regions) with rich sources of vitamin C constitutes malaria endemic zones. In these zones, where vitamin C rich food such as citrus fruits and green vegetables abound, a mutual relationship between the two appears to exist. A database of vitamin C contents in tropical vegetables and foods has been published. Moringa oleifera for example contains 7 times more vitamin C than oranges. M....

Three diseases at least are caused by mycobacteria : leprosy, tuberculosis and Buruli ulcer. Iron is a prerequisite for the growth of mycobacteria. It is a cofactor for numerous enzymes encoded in the mycobacterium genome. It is required for the cytochromes involved in electron transport. It has been estimated that 7 to 64 g Fe per kg of mycobacterial cell mass is required to support growth. Iron limitation in vitro to levels below these results in growth restriction in many species of mycobacteria, such as M. tuberculosis....

One of the first mistakes of Western medicine in Africa was the iron supplementation to the Somali nomads in 1968. Blood analysis of these nomads had shown that according to European standards they were suffering from anemia. Murray MJ, Murray AB, Murray MB, Murray CJ. The adverse effect of iron repletion on the course of certain infections. Br Med J. 1978 Oct 21;2(6145):1113-5. But iron administration was associated with a significant increase of the disease it was supposed to suppress and even to reactivation of pre-existing...

Malaria, folates and PABA : beware Folates combine three molecules : pretidine & para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) & glutamate. They were discovered around 1940 and first isolated from spinach leaves. The term folate is derived from the latin word folium. The malaria parasite has a unique feature of being able to salvage exogenous folate derivatives and/or synthesize them de novo. Due to its high rate of replication, the parasite has a high demand for folates. Folate metabolism is the target of several antimalarials. Food fortified with folic...

Potassium, the most abundant cation in the human body, regulates intracellular enzyme function and neuromuscular tissue excitability. Serum potassium is normally maintained within the narrow range of 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L. During malaria infection the cytoplasm of infected erythrocytes is poor in potassium and rich in sodium, a drastic change compared to non infected erythrocytes. H. Ginsburg,S. Handeli, S. Friedman. Effects of red blood cell potassium and hypertonicity on the growth ofPlasmodium falciparum in culture. Zeitschrift für...