Malaria and age variably but critically control hepcidin throughout childhood in Kenya
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Both iron deficiency (ID) and malaria are common among African children. Studies show that the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin is induced by malaria, but few studies have investigated this relationship longitudinally. We measured hepcidin concentrations, markers of iron status, and antibodies to malaria antigens during two cross-sectional surveys within a cohort of 324 Kenyan children ≤8 years old who were under intensive surveillance for malaria and other febrile illnesses. Hepcidin concentrations were highest in the youngest, and female infants, declined rapidly in infancy and more gradually thereafter. Asymptomatic malaria and malaria antibody titres were positively associated with hepcidin concentrations. Recent episodes of febrile malaria were associated with high hepcidin concentrations that fell over time. Hepcidin concentrations were not associated with the subsequent risk of either malaria or other febrile illnesses. Given that iron absorption is impaired by hepcidin, our data suggest that asymptomatic and febrile malaria contribute to the high burden of ID seen in African children. Further, the effectiveness of iron supplementation may be sub-optimal in the presence of asymptomatic malaria. Thus, strategies to prevent and eliminate malaria may have the added benefit of addressing an important cause of ID for African children.
Date Issued
2015-08-08
Date Acceptance
2015-08-05
Citation
EBioMedicine, 2015, 2 (10), pp.1478-1486
ISSN
2352-3964
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1478
End Page
1486
Journal / Book Title
EBioMedicine
Volume
2
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© 2015 the Authors. This article is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License URL
Publication Status
Published