Association between Plasmodium Infection and Nitric Oxide Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Issued Date
2023-10-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20763921
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85175295315
Journal Title
Antioxidants
Volume
12
Issue
10
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Antioxidants Vol.12 No.10 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Kotepui K.U., Mahittikorn A., Wilairatana P., Masangkay F.R., Kotepui M. Association between Plasmodium Infection and Nitric Oxide Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Antioxidants Vol.12 No.10 (2023). doi:10.3390/antiox12101868 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/90949
Title
Association between Plasmodium Infection and Nitric Oxide Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the pathology of malaria. This systematic review and meta-analysis describe the association between NO levels and malaria. Embase, Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to identify studies evaluating NO levels in malaria patients and uninfected controls. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to discern differences in NO levels between the groups. Of the 4517 records identified, 21 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The findings illustrated significant disparities in NO levels based on geographic location and study time frames. Despite the fluctuations, such as higher NO levels in adults compared to children, no significant differences in mean NO levels between patients and uninfected controls (p = 0.25, Hedge’s g: 0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.25–0.96, I2: 97.39%) or between severe and non-severe malaria cases (p = 0.09, Hedge’s g: 0.71, 95% CI: −0.11–1.54, I2: 96.07%) were detected. The systematic review and meta-analysis highlighted inconsistencies in NO levels in malaria patients. Given the high heterogeneity of the results, further studies using standardized metrics for NO measurements and focusing on biochemical pathways dictating NO responses in malaria are imperative to understand the association between NO and malaria.