Olusegun Matthew Akanbi
This study assessed the effect of malaria infection on oxidative stress and lipid profiles in pregnant women. One hundred and fourteen pregnant women wer e enrolled and they were grouped according to their gravidity. Blood samples were collected to determine serum lipid profile status and malaria parasite count of the individuals. The mean parasit e density was significantly higher (P<0.05) in primigravidae than multigravidae. Mean low density lipoprotein (LDL) level was significantly higher (p<0.05) in malaria positive than in malaria negati ve women. Mean high density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol levels were higher in malaria neg ative than in malaria positive. There was a signifi cant increase in triglyceride level in malaria positive pregnant women. The mean Total cholesterol level wa s significantly higher (P<0.05) in malaria positive p rimigravidae than in multigravidae. There was increase in the mean triglyceride in malaria positi ve multigravidae as compared to malaria positive secungravidae. While the MDA level was significantl y lower in malaria positive multigravidae than in malaria positive primigravidae and secungravidae, t here was significant increase in catalase level. Th is study showed that the increase in LDL and decrease in the HDL levels in malaria positive pregnant women and primigravidae could expose them to athero sclerosis.
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