Abstract

B. O. George* and O. Ojegbemi

This study evaluated the effect of riboflavin supplementation in malaria patients. Fifteen patients (GpA) were given chloroquine tablets (25 mg/kg-body weight for three days, while 15 others (GpB) were given riboflavin tablets (300 mg per day for five days in addition to chloroquine). Twenty healthy individuals who were not given any drug served as control. Packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels in the patients were significantly lower (p< 0.05) while their serum lipid hydroperoxide (LHP) levels were significantly higher compared to the control subjects during the study period. Five days after commencement of treatment the PCV and Hb levels increased significantly by 4 and 6%, respectively, in GpA compared to14 and 13% in GpB. The LHP level reduced by 9% in GpA compared to 31% in the supplemented group. The negative correlation observed between PCV and LHP (r= -0.648, p<0.05, n=30) and also between Hb and LHP (r=-0.825, p<0.05, n=30), suggests anaemia due to destruction of erythrocytes. The results show that there is oxidative stress in malaria infection and that chloroquine supplementation with riboflavin could reduce lipid peroxidation of erythrocytes and improve the outcome of malaria.