Serum ferritin, α-tocopherol, β-carotene and retinol levels in lymphatic filariasis

Based on a cross-sectional study conducted among 100 adults in 1993 in Tanga, Tanzania, the relationship between Wuchereria bancrofti infection and markers of iron, vitamin A and vitamin E status was assessed. Potential predictors assessed were elephantiasis, hydrocoele, W. bancrofti microfilaria intensity and antigen concentration, and,intensity of Schistosoma haematobium, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides infection, while controlling for age, sex and elevated serum alpha-1 antichymotrypsin. Of the 100 adults, 62 had W. bancrofti antigenaemia and 43 microfilaraemia, and 21 had elephantiasis. Of the 64 males, 31 had hydrocoele. W bancrofti microfilaria intensity was a positive predictor of serum ferritin and a negative predictor of serum alpha-tocopherol. In contrast, negative relationships observed between W. bancrofti microfilaria intensity and serum beta-carotene and retinol were not significant. Neither antigen concentration nor clinical manifestations were predictors of micronutrient status. Intensity of hookworm infection was associated with lower serum ferritin. S. haematobium egg output was not a significant predictor of serum ferritin, but was a positive predictor of serum beta-carotene. In conclusion, W. bancrofti microfilaria intensity was associated with higher serum ferritin, but lower serum alpha-tocopherol. The associations probably reflect increased oxidative stress due to microfilariaehost interactions, which could play a role in the pathogenesis.