Evaluating in vitro parasite growth in RBCs from anemic chaildren at baseline, we consistently found lower parasite growth rates than in RBCs from iron replete individuals. Furthermore, growth was lower in RBCs from those donors with the lowest hemoglobin concentrations (Hgb 7-9 g/dl=mean relative growth rate (GR) 32.6%; Hgb 9.1-10 g/dl=GR 45.9&; Hgb 10.1-11 = GR 55.9&; p