@article{fdi:010066216,
  title = {{E}levated blood lead levels are associated with reduced risk of malaria in {B}eninese infants},
  author = {{M}oya-{A}lvarez, {V}. and {M}ireku, {M}. {O}. and {A}yotte, {P}. and {C}ot, {M}ichel and {B}odeau-{L}ivinec, {F}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}ntroduction {E}levated blood lead levels ({BLL}) and malaria carry an important burden of disease in {W}est {A}frica. {B}oth diseases might cause anemia and they might entail long-term consequences for the development and the health status of the child. {A}lbeit the significant impact of malaria on lead levels described in {N}igeria, no evaluation of the effect of elevated {BLL} on malaria risk has been investigated so far. {M}aterials and {M}ethods {B}etween 2010 and 2012, blood lead levels of 203 {B}eninese infants from {A}llada, a semi-rural area 50km {N}orth from {C}otonou, were assessed at 12 months of age. {T}o assess lead levels, blood samples were analyzed by mass spectrometry. {I}n parallel, clinical, microbiological and hematological data were collected. {M}ore precisely, hemoglobin, serum ferritin, {CRP}, vitamin {B}12, folate levels, and {P}lasmodium falciparum parasitemia were assessed and stool samples were also analyzed. {R}esults {A}t 12 months, the mean {BLL} of infants was 7.41 mu g/d{L} ({CI}: 65.2; 83), and 128 infants (63%) had elevated blood lead levels, defined by the {CDC} as {BLL}>5 mu g/d{L}. {L}ead poisoning, defined as {BLL}>10 mu g/d{L}, was found in 39 infants (19%). {T}wenty-five infants (12.5%) had a positive blood smear at 12 months and 144 infants were anemic (71%, hemoglobin<110 g/{L}). {E}levated blood lead levels were significantly associated with reduced risk of a positive blood smear ({AOR} = 0.38, {P}-value = 0.048) and {P}. falciparum parasite density (beta-estimate = -1.42, {P}-value = 0.03) in logistic and negative binomial regression multivariate models, respectively, adjusted on clinical and environmental indicators. {C}onclusion {O}ur study shows for the first time that {BLL} are negatively associated with malarial risk considering other risk factors. {M}alaria is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in infants under 5 years worldwide, and lead poisoning is the 6th most important contributor to the global burden of diseases measured in disability adjusted life years ({DALY}s) according to the {I}nstitute of {H}ealth {M}etrics. {I}n conclusion, due to the high prevalence of elevated {BLL}, health interventions should look forward to minimize the exposure to lead to better protect the population in {W}est {A}frica.},
  keywords = {{BENIN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}los {O}ne},
  volume = {11},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {e0149049 [12 p.]},
  ISSN = {1932-6203},
  year = {2016},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pone.0149049},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010066216},
}