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G6PD-deficient patients are resistant to Plasmodium falciparum malaria

• because their red blood cells (RBCs) have reduced levels of NADPH, leading to oxidative stress.
• This creates a hostile environment for the malaria parasite, which relies on RBCs for survival.
• The oxidative damage weakens infected RBCs, causing their premature destruction (hemolysis) before the parasite can complete its life cycle.
• This natural selection advantage explains the higher prevalence of G6PD deficiency in malaria-endemic regions.