Food supplementation effects on the parasitaemia and haematological parameters of mice induced with <i>Plasmodium berghei</i>

Abstract

Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in developing countries where it has serious economic and social cost. The immune system is one of the defence mechanisms of animals to keep the integrity of their body. Micronutrients play an important role in enhancing immune response. Food supplements are mostly naturally occurring compounds that are widely used as food or as part of drugs. This study aimed at determining the role of food supplements in reducing the parasitaemia of Plasmodium berghei in rodents. A total of 60 Swiss albino mice of both sexes weighing 18-30grams were used for the study. Animals were divided into two groups of 30 for each test (prophylactic and curative). The mice were inoculated with drug sensitive Nk65 Plasmodium berghei berghei and were divided into six groups each consisted of five animals. Four of the six groups were administered separately one of the food nutrients (vitamin A, E, folic acid (Fa) and combination of vitamins A, E and Fa). One of the two remaining groups was given 1.2mg/kg of Sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (prophylactic test) or 5mg/kg of Chloroquine (curative test) (positive control) while the remaining group received 0.2mls of distil water (negative control). The administration of vitamin E produced the highest inhibition (47.84 %), followed by the combination of vitamin A, E and folic acid (Fa) (43,53 %), while Fa recorded the least (0.41 %) in curative test. In the prophylactic test, the combination of vitamins A, E and Fa and vitamin E had 23. 48 % and 23.63 % inhibition respectively, while folic acid recorded the least suppression of -5.44 %. The haematological parameters showed inconsistent changes in the study groups. Since there was moderate inhibition in parasitaemia in groups administered food supplements especially vitamin E and combination of vitamin A, E and Fa, food supplements should be included in the daily intake of everybody to increase protection against diseases.