PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF GROUND FLAXSEED OR ETHYL LINOLENATE IN A VITAMIN-E-DEFICIENT DIET AGAINST MURINE MALARIA

Vitamin E-deficient diets containing 5 to 20% ground flaxseed or 2.75% ethyl linolenate protected mice against the malarial parasite Plasmodium yoelii as shown by decreased parasitemia and enhanced survival. Although the biochemical mechanism of these dietary effects is not established, the high intake of linolenic acid coupled with the oxidant stress generated by the parasite presumably destabilize the red blood cell of the vitamin E-deficient host leading to premature erythrocyte lysis and destruction of the parasite. Continued investigation into the response of the malarial parasite to dietary pro-oxidant stress may provide leads to new approaches in the control of this disease.