![]() Low serum levels of micronutrients may be observed in individuals due to malnutrition, poverty, effect of inflammation, and response of the body to physiological stress. Micronutrients play a vital role in metabolism, as cofactors in gene transcription, tissue function, and regulation of body’s defense system. Micronutrients on the other hand are inorganic trace minerals and organic vitamins that are only required in limited amounts but are essential for physiological functions. Untreated, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) may lead to death however, the huge number of deaths are due to untreated leishmaniasis. Due to its restricted reach and occurrence in isolated areas, the infection may go unnoticed from the official sources along with many other topical diseases. Visceral leishmaniasis being the deadliest among all the other manifestations accounts for majority of deaths. There are combinedly three different manifestations of leishmaniasis visceral leishmaniasis, post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, or cutaneous leishmaniasis and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. The subtropical and tropical environments are hubs where the sand flies carrying parasite are developed. Leishmaniasis is caused by a group of leishmania parasites, it is further transmitted to humans through infected phlebotomine sand fly. Since there is requirement of novel drugs to fight drug resistance and relapse of leishmaniasis, this article may pave way to understand the importance of micronutrients and their role in therapeutic outcomes of leishmaniasis. Vitamin D, C, zinc, and iron are proved effective in inhibiting the growth of leishmaniasis in both amastigote or promastigote forms, either directly or by acting as precursor for a pathway which inhibits the parasite growth. This article elucidates a new perception to the crucial role of micronutrients and their probable role in the therapeutic outcomes of leishmaniasis. The intensity of leishmaniasis can be influenced by body mass and micronutrient availability in the blood. Malnourishment can exacerbate host sensitivity and pathophysiologic intensity to infection in variety of ways, whereas infection can enhance underlying poor nutrition or enhance host vulnerability and sandfly's urge to attack specific hosts. Malnutrition has been recognized as a poor predictive marker for leishmaniasis, in particular the deficiency of trace elements like zinc, iron, and vitamin A, B, C, D which has a prominent function in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity, cell proliferation, human physiology, etc. Altered resistance to infection and host susceptibility are associated with low micronutrient levels in undernourished patients. The factors associated with poverty like low income, ecological factors, and malnutrition cause disruption in immunity and host defense increasing risk of infection. Leishmaniasis is a protozoal disease declared as an endemic in areas suffering from severe malnutrition and poverty.
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