25/10/2025
Why you shouldn't take any of these antioxidants when treating malaria with any of these artemisinin derivatives.
There are what are called free radicals; they are unstable molecules that have one or more unpaired electrons, such as Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Because of this instability, they react quickly with other molecules in the body, such as DNA, proteins, and lipids, in an attempt to become stable.
When controlled or produced less in the body, they help in:
1. Immune defense
2. Detoxification
3. Vasodilation
4. Drug mechanisms, like ACTs
5. Cell growth.
When produced in excess or not neutralized by antioxidants, they cause oxidative stress, leading to:
1. DNA damage
2. Protein, membrane, cell, and tissue damage
3. Skin aging, etc.
Antioxidants:
1. Vitamin C
2. Vitamin E
3. Glutathione
These are supplements that neutralize free radicals by donating electrons, preventing them from causing oxidative stress.
Like I mentioned earlier, oxidative stress has health benefits in artemisinin derivatives mechanisms, so this is how it works.
Artemisinin derivatives, such as:
1. Artesunate
2. Artemether
3. Dihydroartemisinin
These drugs contain an endoperoxide bridge, which is activated in the presence of ferrous iron found in infected red blood cells.
This activation leads to the formation of free radicals, especially Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). These free radicals cause oxidation damage to malaria parasites, especially their membrane, proteins, and DNA.
Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and glutathione, being powerful antioxidants, neutralize these free radicals, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), produced by Artemisinin, Artesunate, Artemether, and Dihydroartemisinin when taken them at the same time, potentially reducing its parasite-killing effect, reducing the efficiency of the Artemisinin derivatives, and delaying parasite clearance in the red blood cells.
This is the reason why health practitioners always advise not to take any of these antimalarial with Vitamin C . You can continue your vitamins after treating the malaria.
