GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE DEFICIENCY: FREQUENCY AND IMPLICATIONS IN A SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN VILLAGE

Abstract

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme deficiency is the most prevalent X-linked recessive hereditary red blood cell abnormality, affecting over 500 million people globally (Luzzatto et al., 2016). This deficiency is critical as G6PD catalyzes the first step in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), the sole source of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NADPH) in red blood cells (RBCs). NADPH, in turn, is essential for converting oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to its reduced form (GSG), which protects cells from oxidative stress by neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Gomez-Manzo et al., 2017). Interestingly, G6PD deficiency is believed to confer a protective advantage against malaria, suggesting that natural selection has played a role in maintaining its gene frequencies in malaria-endemic regions. This study explores the frequency of G6PD deficiency in a holoendemic village in Sub-Saharan Africa, examining its implications for public health and potential benefits in malaria-prone areas